The military council, which seized power on February 1, 2021, and declared a state of emergency under Article 417 of the 2008 Constitution, announced today (July 31) that the emergency declaration has been officially revoked.
The military claimed that the National League for Democracy (NLD) government failed to resolve alleged voter list irregularities from the 2020 general election, refused to take necessary actions, and neglected requests to postpone sessions of the Pyithu Hluttaw (House of Representatives) and Amyotha Hluttaw (House of Nationalities). The military accused the NLD of proceeding with parliamentary sessions, thereby violating Article 417 of the Constitution and unlawfully attempting to retain state power, which they claimed threatened national unity. Citing this justification, the military staged a coup and seized state power from the NLD government.
On February 1, 2021, the military declared a state of emergency. It appointed then-Vice President U Myint Swe as the acting president.
Subsequently, under Article 418(a) of the 2008 Constitution, all state executive, legislative, and judicial powers were transferred to the military commander-in-chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, and a one-year state of emergency was declared.
After the initial one-year period, the emergency was repeatedly extended in six-month increments, with the justification that the country had not yet returned to stability. As of today, July 31, the final extension has expired.
The military council has now officially revoked the decree declaring the state of emergency and transferring state power to the commander-in-chief, claiming that he has completed the responsibilities assigned to him.
The military council has announced that it has formed a union government as of July, citing Article 427(b) of the 2008 Constitution.
