Myanmar’s National League for Democracy (NLD) has named its candidates to be president, confirming that its leader Aung San Suu Kyi is not a contender.
Ms Suu Kyi failed to persuade the military to allow a clause barring her from the presidency to be overruled.
Under the clause she cannot be leader as her sons are British, not Burmese.
But she has vowed to lead from the sidelines instead. The candidate thought most likely to become president, Htin Kyaw, is a close aide.
The NLD, which won a landslide in November, has named Htin Kyaw as its lower house nominee for vice president, and Henry Van Thio, an MP from the Chin ethnic minority, as its upper house nominee.
Both houses will choose between the NLD’s candidates and those from other parties, but because the NLD holds a majority in both houses, its candidates are likely to be chosen.
The winner from each house will then enter a second vote to decide the president of the country. A military nominated candidate will also compete in this vote.
The two losing candidates will become vice-presidents.
Correspondents say Htin Kyaw is almost certain to be elected president by the NLD-controlled parliament.
Jonah Fisher, BBC News, Nay Pyi Taw – ‘No deal’
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, who 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.
The NLD won the majority of non-military seats available in parliament in last year’s historic general election, although the army – which still controls a quarter of all parliamentary seats and key security ministries – remains a significant force in Burmese politics.
The new government will take power on 1 April – the first freely elected government after more than 50 years of military rule and then five years of military-backed civilian government.(BBC News)
Link: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35770535
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