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Win Myint (Burmese: ဝင်းမြင့်; MLCTS: wang: mrang. [wɪ́ɰ̃ mjɪ̰ɰ̃]; born 8 November 1951) is a Burmese politician who served as the tenth president of Myanmar from 2018 to 2021 where he was removed from office in the 2021 coup d'état.[1] He was the speaker of the House of Representatives from 2016 to 2018. He also served as a member of parliament in the House of Representatives (Pyithu Hluttaw) from 2012 to 2018.[2][3] Win Myint was viewed as an important ally of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. As Suu Kyi was the de facto leader of the country, Win Myint was seen as a puppet of her.
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) |
| 2nd Speaker 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 the Pyithu Hluttaw for Tamwe Township | |
| In office 1 February 2016 – 23 March 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Lei Lei Win Swe |
| Member of the Pyithu Hluttaw for Pathein Township | |
| In office 2 May 2012 – 29 January 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Than Tun |
| Succeeded by | Wai Hlaing Tun |
| Member-elect of Pyithu Hluttaw (1990) | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Constituency | Danubyu Township № 1 |
| Majority | 20,388 (56%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 November 1951 Nyaung Chaung Village, Danubyu, Union of Burma |
| Political party | National League for Democracy |
| Spouse | Cho Cho |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | University of Yangon |
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Win Myint was born in Nyaung Chaung Village, Danubyu, Ayeyarwady Region, Burma to parents Tun Kyin and Daw Than. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in geology from the Rangoon Arts and Science University.[3] Win Myint is married to Cho Cho and the couple has one daughter, Phyu Phyu Thin, a senior advisor of City Mart Holdings.[4][5]
1988 uprising and 1990 election
After graduating in geology from Rangoon Arts and Science University, Win Myint became a High Court senior lawyer in 1981 and become a lawyer of the Supreme Court of Myanmar. In 1985, he became a High Court advocate. He was jailed for his role in the 8888 Uprising, and has been described by some who have met him as rather a closed book.[6]
Out of jail in time for the 1990 Myanmar general election, which the military later nullified, he ran successfully for Ayeyarwady Region’s Danubyu Township, winning a majority of 20,388 (56% of the votes),[7] but was never allowed to assume his seat.[6]
2012 by-election and 2015 election
Win Myint resumed his political career in the 2012 Myanmar by-elections, winning a Pyithu Hluttaw, lower house seat in Pathein constituency, and going on to become secretary of parliament’s rule of law committee. In the 2015 Myanmar general election, he was elected as Pyithu Hluttaw MP for Tamwe Township. He served as the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Myanmar from 2016 to 2018.[8]
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Following the resignation of Htin Kyaw as President of Myanmar, Win Myint resigned as Speaker of the Pyithu Hluttaw on 21 March 2018, a move seen by many as a preparation by the National League for Democracy for Win Myint to be put forward as a candidate for the presidency. Win Myint was succeeded by his deputy T Khun Myat.[9] The Pyithu Hluttaw confirmed the election of Win Myint as the House of Representatives' nominee for Vice-President on 23 March 2018, paving the way for Win Myint to enter the election process for the next President of Myanmar. Win Myint defeated Union Solidarity and Development Party's candidate Thaung Aye with 273 votes to the latter's 27.[10] Win Myint was elected as the 10th President of Myanmar by the Pyidaungsu 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 granted amnesty to 8,500 prisoners, including 51 foreigners and 36 political prisoners.[12]
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On 1 February 2021, during a military coup d'état, Win Myint was detained along with fellow parliament members including the State Counsellor and party leader, Aung Sun Suu Kyi, in Naypyidaw. Win Myint was removed from office and replaced by Vice-President Myint Swe as acting head of state.
Later on 4 February 2021, Win Myint was charged for violating rules banning gatherings during the COVID-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 to resign, 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, the United Nations list of Heads of State, Heads of Government, and Ministers for Foreign Affairs of all Member States continues to list Win Myint as President 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 as The Irrawaddy claimed that there is little evidence to support the junta's announcement.[19]
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