March 17, 2016: U Htin Kyaw elected Myanmar’s president

March 17, 2016: U Htin Kyaw elected Myanmar’s president

General Studies: Daily Capsule

Curtain Raiser –News Update (March 17, 2016)

U Htin Kyaw elected Myanmar’s president:

U Htin Kyaw has been elected Myanmar’s president. He is a close ally of Aung San Suu Kyi. Myanmar’s Constitution prevents anyone whose children are foreign citizens from assuming the highest office.  As Ms Suu Kyi’s sons are British citizens, she is not eligible for the post of the president.

“Mr. Htin Kyaw’s government would be its most democratic administration since 1962 when the military seized power.”[1]

The system of election of the president:

“The president is chosen from candidates put forward by each of the two houses of parliament, in addition to a third nominee from the military.”[2]

Olive homes of the Guardian writes:

“Htin Kyaw was elected under a complex system in which the two chambers of parliament nominated two presidential candidates and military MPs nominated a third, assuring the army continued influence.

The army also retains 25% of seats in parliament under a 2008 constitution that it drafted, giving it an effective veto on constitutional change. It also keeps key ministerial portfolios related to security.” [3]

The election method can further be amplified in these words of Suhasini Haider:

“With U Htin Kyaw, the National League for Democracy candidate, being elected on March 15, the country will have a new President, a civilian Vice-President, and a Vice-President from the military, under the supervision of the Tatmadaw or Myanmar’s military, which retains a quarter of the seats in Parliament and the power to nominate the three most important ministers: Defence, Home Affairs and Border Affairs.”[4]

Tasks at hand for new government:

“The new government has to address the deep economic problems. Myanmar is placed 149 among 186 nations in the 2013 Human Development Report of the United Nations Development Programme. For getting economy on track, Myanmar will have to take regional as well as global assistance.” [1] & [4]

References:

1.    1.   A new chapter in Myanmar, March 17, 2016, The Hindu

2.      Myanmar elects Htin Kyaw as first civilian president in decades, March 15, 2016,  http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35808921

3.      Myanmar parliament elects Htin Kyaw as first civilian president in 53 years, by Oliver Homes, March 15, 2016, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/15/myanmar-parliament-elects-htin-kyaw-as-first-civilian-president-in-53-years

4.      4. A new beginning in Myanmar by Suhasini Haider, March 16, 2016, The Hindu