Myanmar’s parliament elects Suu Kyi’s confidant as president
Written by Morenike Adebayo on March 15, 2016
Myanmar’s parliament has elected Htin Kyaw as the next president. He becomes the first civilian to lead the country after more than fifty years of military rule. Htin Kyaw is a close ally of Aung San Suu Kyi, whose National League for Democracy (NLD) party swept to victory in historic elections in November.
He beat another NLD candidate and one put forward by the military. Miss Suu Kyi is barred from the post due to a constitutional clause, but has said she would be above the president. Htin Kyaw won with three hundred and sixty out of the six hundred and fifty-two votes cast.
In second place was military-nominated Myint Swe, who received two hundred and thirteen votes, followed by the other NLD candidate, Henry Van Thio, who got seventy-nine votes.
Htin Kyaw will replace Thein Sein who will step down at the end of the month after five years of army-backed rule.
