Historic vote sees Myanmar elect first civilian president in decades

Myanmar’s lawmakers Tuesday elected a close aide and longtime friend of Aung San Suu Kyi to become the country’s first civilian president in decades, a historic moment for the formerly junta-run nation. Htin Kyaw, 69, hailed his elevation to the top post as “Suu Kyi’s victory”, a clear nod to her plan for him to serve as a proxy for the Nobel laureate who is constitutionally barred from becoming president. MPs erupted into applause after victory was announced following a lengthy ballot count by hand in the capital Naypyidaw in which Htin Kyaw took 360 of 652 votes cast.

This is sister Aung San Suu Kyi’s victory.

Htin Kyaw

Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy won a thumping victory at the polls in November, allowing her party to dominate Myanmar’s two legislative houses. But the military remains a powerful force in the Southeast Asian nation and has refused to change a clause in the junta-era constitution that bars 70-year-old Suu Kyi from top political office. The veteran activist has instead vowed to rule “above” the next leader. Htin Kyaw will take office on 1 April, replacing incumbent Thein Sein’s five years of army-backed quasi-civilian leadership that has been lauded for steering the nation out from the shadow of outright military rule.

He was chosen by Mother Suu. Now he is our president. He will be a good president because he has been working with Mother Suu for many years.

Daw Mya, 60, a vegetable vendor in Yangon

Myanmar