Thursday, 28 March 2024
Suu Kyi ruled out as Myanmar president

Suu Kyi ruled out as Myanmar president

Myanmar's National League for Democracy (NLD) has named two candidates, as the country starts the process of selecting a new president.

Correspondents say one of them, Htin Kyaw, is almost certain to be elected president by the NLD-controlled parliament.

The nominations confirm that NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi will not be president of the country.

However, Ms Suu Kyi has previously said she would be "above" the president.

She tried right to the last. But there was no deal. Despite a huge win in the election, Aung San Suu Kyi failed to convince the army that her destiny was the presidency.

Clause 59F of the constitution which bars her because her sons have British not Burmese passports remains in place, and she has now chosen someone else.

It's Htin Kyaw, a fellow Oxford graduate she's known all her life. He's a committed member of the party and was by her side when Ms Suu Kyi was released from house arrest in 2010.

His most important quality may be the ability to take orders. Aung San Suu Kyi has made it clear that though she does not have the title - she will still be in charge.

(Extracts from BBC)

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Last modified on Thursday, 10 March 2016 23:45