As parliament convened on Monday, following a general election from which the biggest opposition parties were excluded.
Min Aung Hlaing is certain to be chosen, as he was nominated in parliament alongside two loyalists who are very unlikely contenders for president.
He has been sanctioned by many Western countries for leading a military coup five years ago.
In the ensuing civil war, thousands of people have been killed and millions have been displaced. Large areas of the country remain under the control of armed opposition groups.
The general elections, held between December and January, were touted by the junta as a pathway to peace.
But the vote was widely viewed as a sham, with many popular parties banned from standing and large areas of the country not allowed to participate because of the civil war.The regime has rejected this criticism, maintaining that the vote was free and fair.
Still, around 90% of the members of Myanmar’s new parliament owe their loyalty to Min Aung Hlaing, either as serving officers in the armed forces – which are guaranteed a quarter of the seats – or as elected candidates for the military’s own party.
They plan to spend most of this week debating the choice of the next president, but it is now inevitable that the coup leader will get the job.
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