Myanmar's former military chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, stepped down on Monday to run for president following the country's first polls since the 2021 coup.
The 69-year-old, who led the armed forces since 2011, was nominated as a vice-presidential candidate by lawmakers in the newly convened lower house. The upper house will also propose a candidate, with both chambers set to choose a president from among the nominees in a future vote.
Min Aung Hlaing handed over command of the military to Lieutenant General Ye Win Oo during a recent parade in Naypyitaw. Ye Win Oo, known as a trusted loyalist, has held key intelligence and regional command roles.
The recent election, won by the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party, was widely condemned as illegitimate by the UN and Western nations.
Min Aung Hlaing orchestrated the 2021 coup, ousted civilian leaders like Aung San Suu Kyi, and triggered a civil conflict that continues today. He has long aimed for the presidency, shifting now from military rule to elected office.
A controversial figure internationally, Min Aung Hlaing faces sanctions and an ICC arrest warrant for atrocities against the Rohingya. His leadership has relied on elite management and rewarding loyalists while sidelining opponents.