AFP, NAYPYIDAW: A trusted aide of Aung San Suu Kyi on Friday sailed through a lower house vote to be Myanmar’s presidential nominee, clearing a key hurdle to becoming the country’s first civilian leader in generations.
Htin Kyaw, a respected writer who helps run Suu Kyi’s charitable foundation, was seen as the democracy veteran’s top choice to act as her proxy.
One further vote of approval from the combined houses is needed before he can officially be anointed leader of the nation that has been run by the military for decades.
“Htin Kyaw, the executive committee member of the Daw Khin Kyi Foundation, has got the most supporting votes,” said lower house speaker Win Myint.
Suu Kyi was first to cast her ballot in an election that saw Htin Kyaw win support from across the party spectrum, winning 274 votes out of 317 in the lower house, where there are 255 National League for Democracy MPs.