Min Aung Hlaing assumes presidential duties in move criticised as brazen power grab

By Admin 23 Jul 2024

DMG Newsroom
23 July 2024, Sittwe

Junta boss Min Aung Hlaing has taken over the duties of the regime’s acting president U Myint Swe, who has been on leave due to his health, junta media reported on Monday.

“While acting president U Myint Swe is on medical leave and can’t perform his duties, acting president duties have been handed over to the chairman of the State Administration Council so that he can deal with matters related to the National Defence and Security Council,” reads the announcement.

Political analyst U Than Soe Naing called Min Aung Hlaing’s assumption of the presidency a brazen move.

“He has grabbed the presidency by appointing himself as the president as per the 2008 Constitution. It is a very shameless act,” he said.

“No government will recognise his presidency except for some three or four countries that have ties to the regime. As he has assumed the presidency, he will lead the NDSC [National Defence and Security Council] meetings and make decisions.”

The military regime retained two vice presidents who served in those roles under the now-ousted National League for Democracy (NLD) government. First vice-president U Myint Swe was appointed acting president after the military’s February 2021 coup, and second vice-president Henry Van Thio resigned on health grounds in April of this year.

Five days after the regime announced that U Myint Swe could not perform his duties due to a neurological disorder on July 18, Min Aung Hlaing declared himself acting president of Myanmar.

Critics have accused the junta boss of exploiting the military-drafted 2008 Constitution.

“Min Aung Hlaing is now the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, president, and the head of the NDSC. He has all the power in his hands. He can do anything he wants. We will see what he will do to the people,” said political analyst and veteran Arakanese politician U Pe Than.

The regime has extended a state of emergency rule five times since declaring it after the 2021 coup. The emergency rule is next set to expire on July 31. Political observers say armed conflicts will continue to expand whether the regime extends the emergency rule again or not.