Htin Kyaw (C) and Myanmar Pro Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi (R) arrive at the lower house of parliament in Naypyidaw on March 11, 2016. (AFP Photo)
Highlights
- Longtime aide of Aung San Suu Kyi to take over as President from April 1
- First democratically chosen leader after 50 years of military rule
- Suu Kyi's party swept the November polls but she's barred from presidency
Myanmar's parliament has elected Htin Kyaw as Myanmar's new president, a watershed moment that ushers the longtime opposition party of Aung San Suu Kyi into government.
The 70-year-old Htin Kyaw, a longtime confidant of Suu Kyi, will take office April 1 to become Myanmar's first democratically elected leader after more than half a century of military rule.
With the vote count still underway today, Htin Kyaw's victory was confirmed after he secured 360 votes from among 652 ballots cast.
Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy won a sweeping victory in November 8 elections but she is blocked from the presidency by a clause in the constitution that excludes anyone with a foreign spouse or children. Her two sons and late husband are British.