Bangkok, March 30: Myanmar’s Parliament on Monday began the process of electing the country’s next president, which will mark a nominal return to an elected government after five years of military rule, but is widely considered to be an effort to keep power in the hands of the army.
The process began the same day that Senior Gen Min Aung Hlaing, the head of the military-led government, announced that he was relinquishing his concurrent post of the military’s commander-in-chief. The move is a prerequisite for becoming head of state, because the Constitution prohibits the president from simultaneously holding the top military position.
Min Aung Hlaing will be among three nominees to contend for the president’s post.
New president could be named by end of week
The Lower House, the Upper House and the military bloc – which by appointment holds a quarter of the seats in the legislature – can each propose a nominee, formally for vice president. Hlaing was one of two put forward by the Lower House, while the Upper House offered up two relatively unknown candidates, and the military did not announce their choices.
Once each group settles on a single nominee and their credentials are verified by a review committee, the 586-member legislature will vote; the candidate with the highest votes will become president, while the other two will serve as vice presidents. (AP)
