This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-35808921
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Myanmar parliament voting on new president | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Myanmar's parliament has begun electing a new president, who is almost certain to be the first civilian to lead the country in more than 50 years. | |
| They are choosing between three candidates put forward by the upper and lower houses and the military. | They are choosing between three candidates put forward by the upper and lower houses and the military. |
| The winner is widely expected to be Htin Kyaw, a close ally of Aung San Suu Kyi whose National League for Democracy (NLD) party swept to victory in historic elections in November. | The winner is widely expected to be Htin Kyaw, a close ally of Aung San Suu Kyi whose National League for Democracy (NLD) party swept to victory in historic elections in November. |
| Ms Suu Kyi is barred from the post. | Ms Suu Kyi is barred from the post. |
| A clause in the constitution widely seen as being tailored against her says anyone whose children have another nationality cannot become president. Her children hold British passports. | A clause in the constitution widely seen as being tailored against her says anyone whose children have another nationality cannot become president. Her children hold British passports. |
| Despite weeks of negotiation, the NLD were unable to persuade the military of Myanmar - also known as Burma - to remove or suspend the clause to allow Ms Suu Kyi to take office. | Despite weeks of negotiation, the NLD were unable to persuade the military of Myanmar - also known as Burma - to remove or suspend the clause to allow Ms Suu Kyi to take office. |
| But she has always said that she would run the country anyway, with the president effectively acting as a proxy. | But she has always said that she would run the country anyway, with the president effectively acting as a proxy. |
| Who are the nominees? | Who are the nominees? |
| How Suu Kyi could be more powerful outside the presidency | How Suu Kyi could be more powerful outside the presidency |
| The NLD has a huge majority in both houses of parliament, despite the military's automatic 25% of seats, so the candidate it backs is all but guaranteed to win. | The NLD has a huge majority in both houses of parliament, despite the military's automatic 25% of seats, so the candidate it backs is all but guaranteed to win. |
| "We have planned to vote for Htin Kyaw and practised not to make any mistake," an NLD MP told AFP news agency on Monday. | "We have planned to vote for Htin Kyaw and practised not to make any mistake," an NLD MP told AFP news agency on Monday. |
| The runners-up will become vice-presidents. The NLD will then begin the process of forming a government before taking office in a few weeks' time. | The runners-up will become vice-presidents. The NLD will then begin the process of forming a government before taking office in a few weeks' time. |
| The new president replaces Thein Sein who will step down at the end of the month after five years of army-backed rule. | The new president replaces Thein Sein who will step down at the end of the month after five years of army-backed rule. |
| Who is Htin Kyaw? | Who is Htin Kyaw? |