Prime Minister of Burma

Prime Minister of Myanmar
Former political post
State Seal of Myanmar
Predecessor
Successor None
First officeholder U Nu
Last officeholder Thein Sein
Political office started 4 January 1948
Political office ended 30 March 2011
Burma (Myanmar)

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The Prime Minister of Burma was the head of government of Burma, also called Myanmar, from 1948 to 2011.

Contents

History of the office

The position of Prime Minister was created in 1948, when Burma gained independence from the United Kingdom. Since then, eleven people have held the office (with two of them doing so on multiple occasions). Due to the country's long period of military rule, it has not been uncommon for the Prime Minister to be a serving (or recently retired) military officer.

The actual power of the Prime Minister has considerably varied over time, differing based on who holds the office. In 2004, a power struggle between the then head of state, Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council, and his Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt resulted in the Prime Minister being dismissed and arrested.

The position was abolished on 30 March 2011, according to the current Constitution (adopted in 2008). It provided that the President is both the head of state and head of government.

List of Prime Ministers of Burma/Myanmar (1948–2011)

(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)

# Name
(Birth–Death)
(Term)		 Picture Term start Term end Political Party
Union of Burma
1 U Nu
(1907–1995)
(1st Term)
 4 January 1948 12 June 1956 Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League
2 Ba Swe
(1915–1987)
 12 June 1956 1 March 1957 Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League
(1) U Nu
(1907–1995)
(2nd Term)
 1 March 1957 29 October 1958 Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League
3 Ne Win
(1911–2002)
(1st Term)
 29 October 1958 4 April 1960 Military
(1) U Nu
(1907–1995)
(3rd Term)
 4 April 1960 2 March 1962 Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League
(3) Ne Win
(1911–2002)
(2nd Term)
 2 March 1962 4 March 1974 Military (1962–1972)
↓
Burma Socialist Programme Party (1972–1974)
Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma
4 Sein Win
(1919–1993)
 4 March 1974 29 March 1977 Military/Burma Socialist Programme Party
5 Maung Maung Kha
(1920–1995)
 29 March 1977 26 July 1988 Military/Burma Socialist Programme Party
6 Tun Tin
(1920– )
 26 July 1988 18 September 1988 Military/Burma Socialist Programme Party
7 Saw Maung
(1928–1997)
 21 September 1988 23 September 1988 Military
Union of Burma
(7) Saw Maung
(1928–1997)
 23 September 1988 18 June 1989 Military
Union of Myanmar
(7) Saw Maung
(1928–1997)
 18 June 1989 23 April 1992 Military
8 Than Shwe
(1933– )
 23 April 1992 25 August 2003 Military
9 Khin Nyunt
(1939– )
 25 August 2003 18 October 2004 Military
10 Soe Win
(1949–2007)
 19 October 2004 12 October 2007
(Died in office)
 Military
11 Thein Sein
(1945– )
 12 October 2007 21 October 2010 Military (2007–2010)
↓
Union Solidarity and Development Party (2010)
Republic of the Union of Myanmar
(11) Thein Sein
(1945– )
 21 October 2010 30 March 2011 Union Solidarity and Development Party
Post Abolished (30 March 2011–Present)

See also

References

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Current events
Prime Ministers of Burma (Myanmar)
Small caps indicate military officeholders