Aung San Suu Kyi ‘regrets’ for Not Becoming President
NAYPYITAW, MYANMAR:
Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi today apologized to her supporters for not becoming the country’s next president, who is likely instead to be one of her closest confidantes, an unelected retired bureaucrat.
In her letter posted to social media shortly before Myanmar’s parliament began the process of selecting the new chief executive, the Nobel Laureate apologized for “not fully fulfilling the people’s desire.” She added that she would persevere and asked for people’s continued support “to reach the goal peacefully.”
That was interpreted as a plea for patience and a vow that she will eventually become president. But on Thursday it projected a bittersweet tinge on the proceedings as most of the lawmakers, clad in the orange vests of her National League for Democracy party (NLD), filed into the two chambers of the national legislature.
Meanwhile Myanmar’s National League for Democracy (NLD) has named two candidates, as the country starts the process of selecting a new president. According to the agency, one of them is Htin Kyaw. Mr Kyaw is part of Ms Suu Kyi’s inner circle, is almost certain to be elected President by the NLD-controlled parliament.
Although negotiations were under way, Ms Suu Kyi remains barred from the post by the military-drafted constitution. A third nominee will be chosen by the military. The parliamentarians will decide in coming days whom among the three will be president. The two losing candidates will become vice-presidents.
