Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the head of Myanmar’s military junta, has officially been elected as the country’s new president, securing 429 out of 584 votes in a parliamentary election held on Friday.

The vote took place in the pro-military-dominated Union Parliament, which is heavily stacked with military appointees and representatives from the junta-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party. Min Aung Hlaing had recently stepped down as commander-in-chief of the armed forces to run for the position, formalizing his control five years after the 2021 coup that removed the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko were among the first world leaders to congratulate Min Aung Hlaing on his election, according to statements from junta-affiliated state media. Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo, as well as Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow, also extended messages of support. China’s Foreign Ministry quickly welcomed the development, expressing readiness to strengthen cooperation and stressing the importance of regional stability.

The election has drawn sharp criticism from democracy advocates and international observers, who argue the process lacks legitimacy due to the military’s overwhelming influence in parliament and the ongoing civil conflict. Resistance forces continue to fight the junta across several regions, with some groups forming alliances against what they call military dictatorship.

This move is seen by the junta and its supporters as a step toward restoring order and transitioning to a “disciplined democracy.” Critics, however, view it as an attempt to legitimize military rule under a civilian facade while Myanmar faces deepening economic woes, widespread instability, and isolation from most Western countries.