Suu Kyi thanks MPs for following her orders
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NAY PYI TAW - Aung San Suu Kyi, the chairperson of the National League for Democracy, has commended MPs who showed their supports to Htin Kyaw and Henry Van Thio, two presidential candidates nominated by the party.
Her statement said: “I would like to express my special thanks to all MPs from the political parties who supported both Htin Kyaw and Henry Van Thio. And I also take pride in the MPs from the NLD who cast their votes in a united, disciplined and systematic manner.
“I thank the people who have been supporting the NLD’s undertakings peacefully. I believe that the NLD will overcome any challenges it may face in the future by joining hands with the people,” the statement says.
Htin Kyaw was voted Myanmar's first civilian president in decades at the voting on March 15.
Dr Hla Moe, a Lower House MP from the NLD, said: “She has already instructed all lawmakers from the NLD who to elected as president and vice-president. She congratulates all of us on the election as we did as she said. In addition, she thanked MPs from other political parties which cast their votes in favour of the NLD's presidential candidates.”
The NLD secured 390 parliamentary seats in last November's elections: enough to select the president and a vice president.
The military also congratulated Htin Kyaw on his election as president, according to the Office of the Commander-in-Chief’s Facebook page.
The post said the Tatmadaw took pride in process and would make continue to cooperate for the country’s peace, stability, unity and development.
MP Pe Than from the Arakan National Party said: “The military is included in the parliamentary democratic framework. The military can elect a vice president and it is probably taking into consideration its relations with civil society when it makes statements like that. We did not hear things like that under military rule. I assume the military says it in good faith in consideration of mutual respect and cooperation.”
President Thein Sein also sent his congratulations to Htin Kyaw.
Former Lower House Speaker Thura Shwe Mann said on his Facebook page that Htin Kyaw had secured a democratic mandate. “The incoming government is responsible for serving the interests of the people dutifully. People need to be involve in the country’s defence, security and nation-building endeavours with the far-sightedness. They will always work in the public's interest,” he said.
Htin Kyaw received 360 votes and Henry Van Htio got 79 votes, suggesting around 49 came from other parties. Myint Swe became the first vice-president, meaning he is second-in-command, with 213 votes, presumably 166 from the military representatives and the remaining votes from the Union Solidarity and Development Party and other allied parties.
