By Ko Myo / MPA
NAYPYIDAW — Khin Yi, the chairman of the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), has been confirmed as the Speaker of Myanmar’s Lower House in a session widely denounced as illegitimate by international observers and resistance groups.
The appointment was made without opposition, as Khin Yi was the sole nominee for the post. In a parallel move, Maung Maung Ohn, the junta’s current Information Minister, was appointed Deputy Speaker, also running unopposed.
The process has drawn sharp criticism from political analysts, who view the appointments as a choreographed move by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing to consolidate power following the controversial 2025 elections.
“This is a repeat of the 2010 playbook,” a Yangon-based political commentator told MPA. “Just as Than Shwe pre-selected the leadership before the polls, Min Aung Hlaing has handpicked his loyalists for these roles. The only difference is that while Than Shwe eventually stepped back, Min Aung Hlaing appears intent on clinging to power through a sham presidency.”
Khin Yi, a former brigadier general and close ally of the coup leader, previously served as the Minister for Immigration and Population under the military administration before taking the helm of the USDP. He reportedly secured a seat for Zayyar Thiri Township in the recent polls.
Maung Maung Ohn, who represents the Tatkon constituency, has been a key figure in the junta’s media and propaganda operations since the 2021 coup.
The international community, including many Western nations and the National Unity Government (NUG), continues to reject the validity of the 2025 elections and the subsequent formation of the legislature, citing widespread violence and the exclusion of pro-democracy parties.
Editor: ML
