Win Myint | |
|---|---|
ဝင်းမြင့် | |
 Win Myint in 2020 | |
| 10th President of Myanmar | |
| In office 30 March 2018 – 1 February 2021 | |
| State Counsellor | Aung San Suu Kyi |
| Vice President | First Vice President Myint Swe Second Vice President Henry Van Thio |
| Preceded by | Htin Kyaw |
| Succeeded by | Myint Swe (acting) |
| 2ndSpeaker of the House of Representatives | |
| In office 1 February 2016 – 21 March 2018 | |
| Deputy | T Khun Myat |
| Preceded by | Shwe Mann |
| Succeeded by | T Khun Myat |
| Member of thePyithu Hluttaw forTamwe Township | |
| In office 1 February 2016 – 23 March 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Lei Lei Win Swe |
| Member of thePyithu Hluttaw forPathein Township | |
| In office 2 May 2012 – 29 January 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Than Tun |
| Succeeded by | Wai Hlaing Tun |
| Member-elect ofPyithu Hluttaw (1990) | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Constituency | Danubyu Township № 1 |
| Majority | 20,388 (56%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1951-11-08)8 November 1951 (age 73) Nyaung Chaung Village,Danubyu,Union of Burma |
| Political party | National League for Democracy |
| Spouse | Cho Cho |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | University of Yangon |
Win Myint (Burmese:ဝင်းမြင့်;MLCTS:wang: mrang.[wɪ́ɰ̃mjɪ̰ɰ̃]; born 8 November 1951) is a Burmese politician who served as the tenthpresident of Myanmar from 2018 to 2021 where he was removed from office in the2021 coup d'état.[1] He was thespeaker of the House of Representatives from 2016 to 2018. He also served as a member of parliament in theHouse of Representatives (Pyithu Hluttaw) from 2012 to 2018.[2][3] Win Myint was viewed as an important ally ofState CounsellorAung San Suu Kyi.
Win Myint was born in Nyaung Chaung Village,Danubyu, Ayeyarwady Region, then part of theUnion of Burma, to parents Tun Kyin andDaw Than. He graduated with aBachelor of Science degree ingeology from theRangoon Arts and Science University.[3] Win Myint is married toCho Cho and the couple has one daughter, Phyu Phyu Thin, a senior advisor ofCity Mart Holdings.[4][5]
After graduating in geology fromRangoon Arts and Science University, Win Myint became a High Court senior lawyer in 1981 and become a lawyer of theSupreme Court of Myanmar. In 1985, he became a High Court advocate. He was jailed for his role in the8888 Uprising, and has been described by some who have met him as rather a closed book.[6]
Out of jail in time for the1990 Myanmar general election, which the military later nullified, he ran successfully forAyeyarwady Region’sDanubyu Township, winning a majority of 20,388 (56% of the votes),[7] but was never allowed to assume his seat.[6]
Win Myint resumed his political career in the2012 Myanmar by-elections, winning aPyithu Hluttaw, lower house seat inPathein constituency, and going on to become secretary of parliament’s rule of law committee. In the2015 Myanmar general election, he was elected asPyithu Hluttaw MP forTamwe Township. He served as theSpeaker of the House of Representatives of Myanmar from 2016 to 2018.[8]
Following the resignation ofHtin Kyaw asPresident of Myanmar, Win Myint resigned asSpeaker of the Pyithu Hluttaw on 21 March 2018, a move seen by many as a preparation by theNational League for Democracy for Win Myint to be put forward as a candidate for the presidency. Win Myint was succeeded by his deputyT Khun Myat.[9] ThePyithu Hluttaw confirmed the election of Win Myint as theHouse of Representatives' nominee forVice-President on 23 March 2018, paving the way for Win Myint to enter the election process for the nextPresident of Myanmar. Win Myint defeatedUnion Solidarity and Development Party's candidateThaung Aye with 273 votes to the latter's 27.[10] Win Myint was elected as the 10thPresident of Myanmar by thePyidaungsu Hluttaw (a combined meeting of the two houses of the national legislature) on 28 March 2018, with 403 out of 636 lawmakers voting for him.[11]
On 17 April 2018, Win Myint grantedamnesty to 8,500 prisoners, including 51 foreigners and 36 political prisoners.[12]
On 1 February 2021, during amilitary coup d'état, Win Myint was detained along with fellow parliament members including theState Counsellor andparty leader,Aung Sun Suu Kyi, inNaypyidaw. Win Myint was removed from office and replaced byVice-PresidentMyint Swe as acting head of state.
Later on 4 February 2021, Win Myint was charged for violating rules banning gatherings during theCOVID-19 pandemic. Trial hearings commenced on 16 February.[13] On 11 October, a Naypyidaw judge formally indicted Win Myint under Section 25 of the Disaster Management Law, which carries a maximum three-year prison sentence.[13] During Win Myint's testimony on 12 October, he revealed that on 1 February in the lead-up to the coup, two senior military generals had attempted to force him toresign, under the guise of "ill health."[14]
On 6 December 2021, Win Myint and Suu Kyi were both sentenced to 4 years in jail.[15][16]
As of 21 January 2024, theUnited Nations list of Heads of State, Heads of Government, and Ministers for Foreign Affairs of all Member States continues to list Win Myint asPresident of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.[17]
On 16 April 2024, the military announced that Win Myint had been transferred to house arrest due to a heat wave.[18] However, pro-democracy publications such asThe Irrawaddy claimed that there is little evidence to support the junta's announcement.[19]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | President of Myanmar 2018–2021 | Succeeded by |
| Union of Burma (1948–1962) |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma (1962–1988) | ||
| Union of Burma / Myanmar (1988–2011) | ||
| Republic of the Union of Myanmar (2011–present) | ||
| ||
