<p>Myanmar got its first civilian president since 1962 after lawmakers elected a close aide of Aung San Suu Kyi, who is expected to hold the real reins of power in the nation formerly under military rule.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Htin Kyaw (69) hailed his elevation to the top post as “Suu Kyi’s victory”, a clear nod to her plan that he serve as a proxy to the Nobel laureate who is constitutionally barred from becoming president.<br /><br />Htin Kyaw will be sworn in on March 30, replacing incumbent Thein Sein. arliamentarians erupted into applause after the result was announced following a lengthy ballot count by hand in capital Naypyidaw, in which Htin Kyaw obtained 360 of the 652 votes cast.<br /><br />Myanmar is undergoing a dramatic transformation from an isolated and repressed pariah state to a rapidly opening aspiring democracy.<br /><br />Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) won a thumping victory at elections in November, allowing her party to dominate Myanmar’s two legislative houses.<br /><br />But the junta remains a powerful force and has refused to change a clause in the junta-era constitution which bars her from the presidency. The veteran activist has instead vowed to rule “above” the next leader. Her choice of Htin Kyaw is seen as a testament to her absolute faith in his loyalty.<br /><br />The affable economics graduate, who acted as a driver for Suu Kyi in brief spells of freedom from her long years of house arrest, has the democracy movement in the family.<br /><br />“This is sister Aung San Suu Kyi’s victory,” the newly elected president told reporters after the vote. “Thank you.” Thein Sein, a former general, led a quasi-civilian reformist government for the last five years that has been praised for moving the nation out of the shadow of outright military rule.</p>
<p>Myanmar got its first civilian president since 1962 after lawmakers elected a close aide of Aung San Suu Kyi, who is expected to hold the real reins of power in the nation formerly under military rule.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Htin Kyaw (69) hailed his elevation to the top post as “Suu Kyi’s victory”, a clear nod to her plan that he serve as a proxy to the Nobel laureate who is constitutionally barred from becoming president.<br /><br />Htin Kyaw will be sworn in on March 30, replacing incumbent Thein Sein. arliamentarians erupted into applause after the result was announced following a lengthy ballot count by hand in capital Naypyidaw, in which Htin Kyaw obtained 360 of the 652 votes cast.<br /><br />Myanmar is undergoing a dramatic transformation from an isolated and repressed pariah state to a rapidly opening aspiring democracy.<br /><br />Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) won a thumping victory at elections in November, allowing her party to dominate Myanmar’s two legislative houses.<br /><br />But the junta remains a powerful force and has refused to change a clause in the junta-era constitution which bars her from the presidency. The veteran activist has instead vowed to rule “above” the next leader. Her choice of Htin Kyaw is seen as a testament to her absolute faith in his loyalty.<br /><br />The affable economics graduate, who acted as a driver for Suu Kyi in brief spells of freedom from her long years of house arrest, has the democracy movement in the family.<br /><br />“This is sister Aung San Suu Kyi’s victory,” the newly elected president told reporters after the vote. “Thank you.” Thein Sein, a former general, led a quasi-civilian reformist government for the last five years that has been praised for moving the nation out of the shadow of outright military rule.</p>