This is a collection of photos chosen by AP photo editors.
Protesters gather on steps of the Texas Capitol, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Protesters gather on steps of the Texas Capitol, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Protesters march to the Texas Capitol, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Protesters carrying flags gather on steps of the Texas Capitol, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Tanni Wells chants while joining hundreds gathered during a political protest at the Arizona Capitol Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Michael Martinez joins several hundred demonstrators rallying against President Donald Trump outside the California State Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Several hundred demonstrators rally against President Donald Trump outside the California State Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
People wave signs as they gather to protest against the Trump administration on the steps of the Washington State Capitol building Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Olympia, Wash. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Rissi Ferguson chants while rallying against President Donald Trump outside the California State Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
A driver sticks a bullhorn out their window and honks in support as people gather to protest against the Trump administration and Project 2025 near the Washington State Capitol building Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Olympia, Wash. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Demonstrators march to protest against the Trump administration near the Trump International Hotel along the Las Vegas Strip, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Protesters demonstrate against Project 2025, in Philadelphia, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
People hold signs during a protest outside the Wisconsin Capitol Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Signs are displayed during a protest outside the Wisconsin Capitol Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
A sign is held up during a protest outside the Wisconsin Capitol Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Protesters demonstrate against Project 2025, in Philadelphia, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Protesters demonstrate against Project 2025, in Philadelphia, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Protestors march around the Statehouse in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025 during a protest rally against Project 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Participants cheer during a political protest outside the State Capitol Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Protesters gather on steps of the Texas Capitol, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Demonstrators gather outside the state capitol for a political protest Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Sacramento. (AP Photo/Haven Daley)
Demonstrators gather outside the state capitol for a political protest Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Sacramento. (AP Photo/Haven Daley)
Participants stop traffic on Lincoln Street during a political protest outside the State Capitol Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
A motorist waves a placard in support of participants in a political protest outside the State Capitol Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Demonstrators raise signs during a protest outside City Hall, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
A person holds a sign reading "No Tech Takeover" during a protest outside City Hall, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Demonstrators raise signs during a protest outside City Hall, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Demonstrators raise signs during a protest outside City Hall, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Demonstrators speak during a protest outside City Hall, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Elaine Torok joins several hundred demonstrators outside the California State Capitol to protest against President Donald Trump on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Ricardo Reyes, of Common Defense, shouts as he addresses the crowd as hundreds gather during a political protest at the Arizona Capitol Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Protesters demonstrate against Project 2025, in Philadelphia, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
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Protesters gather on steps of the Texas Capitol, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Protesters gather on steps of the Texas Capitol, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Protesters march to the Texas Capitol, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Protesters carrying flags gather on steps of the Texas Capitol, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Tanni Wells chants while joining hundreds gathered during a political protest at the Arizona Capitol Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Michael Martinez joins several hundred demonstrators rallying against President Donald Trump outside the California State Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Several hundred demonstrators rally against President Donald Trump outside the California State Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
People wave signs as they gather to protest against the Trump administration on the steps of the Washington State Capitol building Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Olympia, Wash. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Rissi Ferguson chants while rallying against President Donald Trump outside the California State Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
A driver sticks a bullhorn out their window and honks in support as people gather to protest against the Trump administration and Project 2025 near the Washington State Capitol building Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Olympia, Wash. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Demonstrators march to protest against the Trump administration near the Trump International Hotel along the Las Vegas Strip, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Protesters demonstrate against Project 2025, in Philadelphia, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
People hold signs during a protest outside the Wisconsin Capitol Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Signs are displayed during a protest outside the Wisconsin Capitol Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
A sign is held up during a protest outside the Wisconsin Capitol Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Protesters demonstrate against Project 2025, in Philadelphia, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Protesters demonstrate against Project 2025, in Philadelphia, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Protestors march around the Statehouse in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025 during a protest rally against Project 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Participants cheer during a political protest outside the State Capitol Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Protesters gather on steps of the Texas Capitol, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Demonstrators gather outside the state capitol for a political protest Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Sacramento. (AP Photo/Haven Daley)
Demonstrators gather outside the state capitol for a political protest Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Sacramento. (AP Photo/Haven Daley)
Participants stop traffic on Lincoln Street during a political protest outside the State Capitol Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
A motorist waves a placard in support of participants in a political protest outside the State Capitol Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Demonstrators raise signs during a protest outside City Hall, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
A person holds a sign reading "No Tech Takeover" during a protest outside City Hall, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Demonstrators raise signs during a protest outside City Hall, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Demonstrators raise signs during a protest outside City Hall, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Demonstrators speak during a protest outside City Hall, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Elaine Torok joins several hundred demonstrators outside the California State Capitol to protest against President Donald Trump on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Ricardo Reyes, of Common Defense, shouts as he addresses the crowd as hundreds gather during a political protest at the Arizona Capitol Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Protesters demonstrate against Project 2025, in Philadelphia, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar’s parliament on Friday elected Min Aung Hlaing, a general who ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government in 2021 and kept an iron grip on power for the past five years, as the country’s new president.
The move marks a nominal return to an elected government but is widely considered to be an effort to keep the army in power after an election organized by the military that opponents and independent observers deemed neither free nor fair.
Min Aung Hlaing was one of three nominees for the president’s post, but was virtually guaranteed the job as lawmakers from military-backed parties and appointed members from the army hold a commanding majority in parliament.
Aung Lin Dwe, speaker of parliament’s combined upper and lower house, announced that Min Aung Hlaing won 429 out of the 584 votes. The two runners-up became vice presidents.
Min Aung Hlaing, who holds the rank of senior general, had earlier relinquished his post of the commander-in-chief because the constitution prohibits the president from simultaneously holding the top military position. A close aide, Gen. Ye Win Oo, took over the powerful job.
The 69-year-old Min Aung Hlaing had been the military chief since 2011. Under a military-imposed constitution, he held major power even before overthrowing Suu Kyi’s government.
Parliament members were elected in three phases in December and January. Major opposition parties, including Suu Kyi’s former ruling National League for Democracy, were either blocked from running or refused to compete under conditions they deemed unfair. Suu Kyi has been held in prison.
Parliament chairman Aung Lin Dwe, center, arrives for a session of Union Parliament in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)
FILE - Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, head of Myanmar's military council, inspects officers during a parade to commemorate Myanmar's 78th Armed Forces Day in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, March 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo, File)
Myanmar's military representatives and lawmakers arrive to attend a session at Union parliament in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Friday, April 3, 2026.(AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)
Myanmar's military representatives arrive for a session at Union parliament in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)
Myanmar's military representatives arrive for a session at Union parliament in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)
Parliament chairman Aung Lin Dwe arrives for a session of Union Parliament in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)
Parliament chairman Aung Lin Dwe, center, arrives for a session of Union Parliament in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)