Myint Swe had himself been installed by Min Aung Hlaing through a military coup d'état on 1 February 2021.

[3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Though a constitutionally powerful position, the presidency is a largely symbolic post under the current military government, with the only presidential action having been to declare and extend the state of emergency.

[12] After the 2015 election, the extraconstitutional post of State Counsellor of Myanmar was created for Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the majority party, the National League for Democracy, because she was ineligible for the presidency.

She served as the de facto head of government until she was deposed in the 2021 coup d'état by Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Min Aung Hlaing, who created the extraconstitutional posts of chairman of the State Administration Council and prime minister for himself to lead the government.

The position of President was created in 1948, with the adoption of the Burmese Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom.

The actual power of the prime minister has considerably varied over time, depending on who holds the office.

The prime minister position was abolished on 30 March 2011, according to the current Constitution (adopted in 2008).

She served as the de facto head of government and the dominant state figure until she was removed with the 2021 coup d'état.

[13] The Constitution of Myanmar sets the principle qualifications that the candidate must meet to be eligible to the office of the President.

[14] The President was then responsible for appointing a prime minister (on the advice of the Chamber of Deputies), who was constitutionally recognised as the head of government and led the Cabinet.

Upon taking power in September 1988, the military based State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) suspended the 1974 constitution.

On 9 April 2008, the military government of Myanmar (Burma) released its proposed constitution for the country to be put to a vote in public referendum on 10 May 2008, as part of its roadmap to democracy.

In spite of its earlier opposition to the 2008 constitution, the NLD participated in the 2012 by-election for 46 seats and won a landslide victory, with Aung San Suu Kyi becoming a member of parliament, alongside 42 others from her party.