Nay Pyi Taw: Myanmar’s Parliament on Wednesday elected Win Myint, close aide of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and former Speaker of the lower house, as the country’s next President, a week after the resignation of his predecessor.
Win Myint, 66, has been the Speaker since 2012 and was widely tipped for the top job. However, his role will be essentially ceremonial, with Suu Kyi acting as de facto President, the BBC reported.
Win Myint’s appointment came after Htin Kyaw resigned as President last week amid growing health concerns. Parliament then had seven days to choose a successor and voted from a short-list of the three Vice Presidents on Wednesday.
Earlier last week, Win Myint was made a Vice President, signalling that he was likely to assume the presidency.
As a long-time member of Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy, Win Myint is seen as a Suu Kyi loyalist. The other two Vice Presidents were Myint Swe, who served as acting President after Htin Kyaw stepped down, and Henry Van Thio.
Win Myint won the election with 403 votes as a total of 636 MPs voted in Parliament. Of the votes cast, four were cancelled. Myint Swe won 211 votes and Henry Van Thio gained 18 votes.
Myint Swe and U Henry Van Thio remained the first and second Vice President respectively, according to the votes received.(IANS)
