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Myanmar names presidential candidates

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

Myanmar names presidential candidates

Myanmar names presidential candidates

STEPANAKERT, MARCH 10, ARTSAKHPRESS: Correspondents say one of them, Htin Kyaw, is almost certain to be elected president by the NLD-controlled parliament.
Although negotiations were under way, Ms Suu Kyi remains barred from the post by the military-drafted constitution.
However, Ms Suu Kyi has previously said she would be "above" the president.

A third nominee will be chosen by the military.

Burmese parliamentarians will decide in coming days whom among the three will be president. The two losing candidates will become vice-presidents.

But correspondents say that the NLD's Htin Kyaw, who is part of Ms Suu Kyi's inner circle, is almost certain to win.

The NLD won the majority of non-military seats available in parliament in last year's historic general election, which means it can effectively decide who the new president is.

But the army - which controls a quarter of all parliamentary seats, remains a significant force in Burmese politics.

She tried right to the last. But in 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.
 


     

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