The Vice President of Myanmar, Myint Swee, was appointed as interim president after the military coup that took place in the country earlier on February 1. This is reported by The Irrawaddy with reference to army television.
At the same time, all the fullness of state power is transferred to the commander-in-chief of the armed forces of Myanmar, senior general Min Aung Hline. The coup d’etat was explained by Article 418 of the country’s constitution: if a state of emergency is declared, the vice president becomes the interim president.
The Irrawaddy recalls that Mint Swee is a former military general who represented the military in the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party. RIA Novosti notes that Mint Swee already served as the President of Myanmar in 2018. Then it happened after the resignation of former President Thin Zhuo.
Earlier, the Myanmar military announced the introduction of a state of emergency in the country for a period of one year. This decision was made due to the rigging of the parliamentary elections.
Prior to this, it became known about the detention of Myanmar President Vin Myin and the head of the NLD Aung San Suu Kyi, who holds the post of State Counselor and Foreign Minister. The NLD said the military was in the process of organizing a coup d’état. In the capital of the country, Naypyidaw, telephone and Internet connections are not available. Soldiers have been spotted in major cities.
In November 2020, elections were held in Myanmar, during which the NLD won, but the military supporting the Union Solidarity and Development Party did not agree with the results. They threatened to “take action” over the alleged vote rigging.