President of Myanmar facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar
Flag of Myanmar
State seal of Myanmar
Incumbent Min Aung Hlaing since 3 April 2026
Style	Mr. President (informal) His Excellency (formal)
Member of	Union Government (normally) National Defence and Security Council
Residence	Presidential Palace
Seat	Naypyidaw
Nominator	Assembly of the Union
Appointer	Presidential Electoral College
Term length	Five years, renewable once
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Myanmar
Precursor	Governor of Burma
Formation	4 January 1948; 78 years ago (1948-01-04)
First holder	Sao Shwe Thaik
Deputy	Vice President
Salary	K5 million/US$ 2,385 per month

The President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar (Burmese: နိုင်ငံတော်‌သမ္မတ; MLCTS: nuing ngam tau samma.ta.) is the country's head of state and head of government. This important role leads the Union Government (Cabinet) and chairs the National Defence and Security Council. The president is chosen by members of parliament, not directly by the public. As of April 3rd, 2026, Min Aung Hlaing serves as the President of Myanmar. Myanmar has experienced different forms of government throughout its history, including periods of civilian and military leadership.

Understanding the President's Role
Who Can Be President?
What the President Does
How the President is Elected
A Look at Myanmar's Presidential History
List of Presidents of Myanmar
See also

Understanding the President's Role

The president holds the top leadership positions as both the head of state and the head of government. The role of president was first created in 1948, when Myanmar gained independence from the United Kingdom. Since then, many people have held this important office. The position was removed twice when military rule took over in 1962 and 1988.

In the early years (1948–1962), Myanmar had a parliamentary system. The Union President was mainly a ceremonial figure, like a symbol for the country. The prime minister was the actual leader of the government. The 1962 political changes removed both these offices. A military leader then took on the powers of both head of state and head of government.

The 1974 Constitution brought back the office of President. This president was also the Chairman of the Council of State. Both these roles were again removed by political changes in 1988.

The 2008 Constitution introduced a new system. In this system, the president is both the head of state and the head of government. This modern presidential system began in 2011 with U Thein Sein as the first president under this constitution.

Who Can Be President?

The Constitution of Myanmar lists the main requirements for someone to become president. These rules are found in Chapter 1 of the Constitution. To be president, a person must:

Be a citizen of Myanmar.
Be at least 45 years old.
Be qualified to be elected as a member of the National Assembly.
Be loyal to the Union and its citizens.
Be a citizen of Myanmar whose parents were both born in Myanmar and are Myanmar Nationals.
Be well-informed about Myanmar's political, administrative, economic, and military matters.
Have lived continuously in Myanmar for at least 20 years before their election. (Time spent abroad with the Union's permission counts as time in Myanmar.)
Not have a parent, spouse, child, or their spouse who owes loyalty to a foreign power or is a citizen of another country.
Have all other qualifications needed to be elected to the Hluttaw (parliament).

Once a president takes office, they are not allowed to take part in any political party activities. This rule helps ensure they serve all citizens fairly.

What the President Does

Under the 2011 Constitution, the president has several key powers and duties:

To grant pardon or amnesty (forgiveness for crimes).
To appoint the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services (the head of the military).
To declare a state of emergency with approval from the National Defence and Security Council.
To appoint and remove Cabinet ministers (people who lead government departments).

How the President is Elected

The president is not chosen directly by the people of Myanmar. Instead, they are elected by a special group called the Presidential Electoral College. This college is made up of three separate committees.

Each of these three committees nominates one candidate for president.

One committee consists of Members of Parliament (MPs) from different regions or states.
Another committee has MPs representing different township populations.
The third committee is made up of military-appointed MPs, chosen by the Defence Services' commander-in-chief.

After the three candidates are nominated, all MPs from the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (Assembly of the Union) vote for one of them. The candidate who receives the most votes becomes the president. The other two candidates become vice-presidents. The president serves for a term of five years. If a president leaves office early, the Electoral College meets again to choose someone to finish the term.

A Look at Myanmar's Presidential History

Before Myanmar gained independence, it had different forms of government. After independence in 1948, Myanmar adopted several constitutions. The 2008 Constitution is the one currently in use.

Before Independence

For many years, different parts of what is now Myanmar were governed separately. From 1862 to 1948, the country was under British colonial rule. During this time, it was led by various British officials, including chief commissioners, lieutenant-governors, and governors. These leaders managed the administration of the colony.

Myanmar became independent in 1948. From 1948 to 1962, and then again from 1974 to 1988, the country had a president. Between these periods, from 1962 to 1974 and from 1988 to 2011, Myanmar was led by military governments. The office of president was brought back in 2011.

The 1947 Constitution

The first constitution was written in 1947. It was used from 1948 until 1962, when it was suspended by a military government. This constitution set up a government with three branches: judicial, legislative, and executive. The legislative branch, called the Union Parliament, had two chambers: the Chamber of Nationalities and the Chamber of Deputies.

The 1974 Constitution

A new constitution was approved in 1973 and came into effect in 1974. This constitution created a single legislative body called the People's Assembly. Members of this assembly belonged to the Burma Socialist Programme Party. Each term for these members was four years. Ne Win became president under this constitution.

Between 1988 and 2008

After political changes in September 1988, the 1974 constitution was removed. A new constitutional convention was called in 1993 to draft a new constitution. However, this process faced challenges and was suspended. Myanmar remained without a constitution until 2008.

The 2008 Constitution

The current constitution was released on 9 April 2008. It was put to a public vote in May 2008. This constitution was designed to guide Myanmar's future.

The 2012 By-Elections

Despite earlier disagreements with the 2008 constitution, the National League for Democracy (NLD) party took part in the 2012 by-election. They won many seats, and Aung San Suu Kyi became a member of parliament.

The 2015 Election

On 15 March 2016, the Assembly of the Union elected Htin Kyaw as the 9th president of Myanmar. He resigned on 21 March 2018, and Myint Swe became acting president. On 28 March 2018, the Assembly of the Union elected Win Myint as the 10th president of Myanmar.

A Period of Military Administration

After a period of political change in 2021, a state of emergency was declared. During this time, the State Administration Council was formed. Its chairman, Min Aung Hlaing, led the country until the presidential election in 2026.

The 2026 Election

On 3 April 2026, the 3rd Assembly of the Union elected Min Aung Hlaing as the 11th president of Myanmar.