BANGKOK (AP) — General-General Min Aung HlaingMyanmar’s military government chief also took over as acting president on Monday, replacing the post holder who was unable to perform his duties due to health problems, state media reported.
The announcement of the statement appointing Min Aung Hlaing as replacement Myint Swe came four days after the public announcement that his predecessor was ill.
It took about a week for the procedures to be carried out to extend the state of emergency that the military originally declared after taking power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021.
The announcement of the new appointment, which was broadcast on state television MRTV, said Min Aung Hlaing received an official letter from the office of the acting president on Monday, giving him the authority to carry out the duties of the acting president and, if necessary, handle matters relating to the National Defence and Security Council while Myint Swe is away on medical leave.
The council, formally headed by the president, is nominally a constitutional government body, but in practice it is controlled by the military. It plays a key role in extending the state of emergency every six months, giving the military wide-ranging extraconstitutional powers. Legally, the president, or in the case of Myint Swe the acting president, must approve extensions.
The military claims that the state of emergency is necessary to address the instability caused by armed opponents of military rule, who are fighting the military in most parts of the country.
State media reported last Thursday that Myint Swe suffers from neurological disorders and peripheral neuropathy. They said he has been receiving medical treatment since the beginning of this year and is still unable to perform normal daily activities, including eating.
Myint Swe became acting president under controversial circumstances following the military takeover in 2021, when President Win Myint was arrested along with Myanmar’s Supreme Leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Myint Swe, a member of a pro-military party, took over the presidency because he held the position of first vice president.
The move, whose legitimacy has been questioned by legal experts, allowed the council to convene to declare a state of emergency and hand power to Min Aung Hlaing, who led the military’s takeover.
Min Aung Hlaing is currently chairman of the ruling military council and the military-installed government. He declared himself prime minister six months after taking power.
