Myanmar Gets Its First Elected Civilian President In Five Decades

Naypyidaw: Myanmar swore in Htin Kyaw as its first elected civilian president on Wednesday after 56 years of military rule in the country.

Kyaw is about to act as a proxy for pro-democracy figurehead and Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and carry the hopes of a nation emerging from military rule. He took over power from the outgoing quasi-civilian government led by former general Thein Sein. The handover completes the transition that began after the National League for Democracy (NLD) won a landslide win in elections in November 2015. Kyaw is a close confidant of Suu Kyi and a longtime member of NLD.

Kyaw, 69, said he would be "faithful to the people" of Myanmar, as he took the oath of office in a joint session of parliament in the capital city of Naypyidaw.

Suu Kyi will be in charge of foreign affairs, the president's office, education, energy and electric power. As party leader, Suu Kyi has said she will act "above the president". Despite her popularity and prominence, she was barred from becoming president under the military-backed constitution because her two sons are British. The constitution of Myanmar does not allow anyone whose family members have another nationality, to become the president.

Myanmar has been under military or military-dominated rule since a coup in 1962, and the elections in November 2015 which brought the new government to power were the first openly contested polls since 1990.

Kyaw is the son of a famous poet and writer, Min Thu Wan, who ran as an NLD candidate in the 1990 elections. His wife, Su Su Lwin, is the daughter of an NLD founder, as well as a sitting MP, and a prominent party member.