With military as VP, Myanmar elects first civilian president

As widely expected, the close confidant of Myanmar’s Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, known as Htin Kyaw, was chosen on Tuesday as the new president of the country after years of brutal military rule.

Kyaw, 69, was elected president by parliament as the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) party takes power on April 1 in a move seen as the latest step towards democracy.

Al Jazeera’s Wayne Hay said there was speculation that Suu Kyi may become Myanmar’s prime minister – a position that doesn’t currently exist – which would likely cause friction with the powerful military.

“As prime minister she would be able to travel the world and meet with world leaders, basically fulfil the role of being the president without actually having that title,” said Hay.

Read also: Suu Kyi not in contention to become Myanmar president

Suu Kyi led the NLD to a landslide victory in the November 8 general elections after decades of often brutal rule by Myanmar’s generals.

Kyaw is the son of a poet and the son-in-law of a founding member of the country’s pro-democracy movement.

Suu Kyi nominated him “obviously to show that he is the most trusted person for her”, said Zaw Min, 48, a former NLD member.

“If this kind of person leads the country … it will also affect positively on the people of this country,” he said.

RipplesNigeria …without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now