NAYPYITAW, MYANMAR — Myanmar’s parliament elected Htin Kyaw as the country’s new president Tuesday in a watershed moment that ushers the longtime opposition party of Aung San Suu Kyi into government after 54 years of direct or indirect military rule.
The joint session of the two houses of parliament broke into thundering applause as the speaker Mann Win Khaing Than announced the result: “I hereby announce the president of Myanmar is Htin Kyaw, as he won the majority of votes.”
The 70-year-old Htin Kyaw, a longtime confidant of Suu Kyi, will take office April 1, but questions remain about his position and power.
