Suu Kyi's party gets two presidential candidates

Myanmar parliament's two houses on Friday elected U Htin Kyaw and U Henry Van Htee Yu of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) as two of three vice presidents to be nominated for a presidential race after qualification scrutiny.

Both the presidential candidates from the ruling NLD are close associates of NLD chief Aung San Suu Kyi and won with thumping majority to join the presidential race.

U Htin Kyaw, elected by the group of presidential electoral college of the House of Representatives (lower house), won against Sai Mauk Kham, nominated by the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) by a vote of 274-29, Xinhua reported.

U Henry Van Htee Yu, elected by the group of presidential electoral college of the House of Nationalities (upper house), won against U Khin Aung Myint, nominated by the USDP by a vote of 148-14.

Meanwhile, the military MPs, which account for 25 percent in the parliament, elected U Myint Swe, current Yangon region chief minister, as the other vice president for the presidential run.

Parliament set three groups representing the two houses and the military MPs to nominate one final candidate each for the presidential run and through voting, the one that wins the most number of votes, will take the presidency, while the remaining two will become vice presidents.

Voting for the presidency is expected to be conducted on March 17 or 18 when the Union Parliament reconvenes.

As the most trusted person by Aung San Suu Kyi, U Htin Kyaw was nominated by the NLD as a candidate for presidential run.

Aung San Suu Kyi described U Htin Kyaw as an intellectual with loyalty and discipline, respected by the international community and said he will be liked by the people.

Suu Kyi said Myanmar will continue to adopt a friendly foreign policy with all countries and place more emphasis on relations with its neighbours.

Since independence, Myanmar has always been adopting a friendly foreign policy with all countries, which is the correct policy for the country, she said, adding that the NLD could successfully implement such a policy.

The elected president and two vice presidents will be sworn-in at parliament on March 30. The handover process of the office of head of state will be followed up at the Presidential Palace.