NAYPYITAW, March 14 (AP): Myanmar’s parliament votes Tuesday to pick the country’s next president from a group of three final candidates, including a front runner who is a longtime confidant of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. Suu Kyi’s NLD won overwhelming majorities in both houses of parliament and its lawmakers are expected to confirm party nominee Htin Kyaw as the country’s next leader. The new president is to take office on April 1. Myanmar’s constitution blocks Suu Kyi from becoming president because of a clause that excludes anyone with a foreign spouse or children. Suu Kyi’s two sons are British, as was her late husband. The clause is seen as having been written by the military with Suu Kyi in mind. Suu Kyi has said she will be “above” the president and rule from behind the scenes, meaning that any NLD candidate would effectively be her proxy. Myanmar’s electoral system requires that the president be chosen from candidates put forward by each of the two houses of parliament, and a third nominee from the military, which retains a quarter of the legislative seats. Parliament speaker Mann Win Khaing Than announced Monday that the vote would take place Tuesday.
