Myanmar's parliament has elected junta leader Min Aung Hlaing as president, according to reports from AFP cited by Swedish media. The election marks Min Aung Hlaing's transition to maintaining power in civilian form following the 2021 military coup. Reports indicate Min Aung Hlaing received at least half of the votes in a parliamentary vote controlled by the junta he leads.
The election follows controversial parliamentary elections held between December 2025 and January 2026, where the military-aligned Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) reportedly won more than 80 percent of votes. Criticism of the election was reportedly banned, and voting was stopped in areas controlled by groups challenging the military takeover. The election has been internationally condemned as an attempt to legitimize military rule five years after the coup against Aung San Suu Kyi.