Local TV hints Aung San Suu Kyi could be in line for Burmese presidency

Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Pic: AP.

 8th February 2016 

TWO pro-government television channels in Burma (Myanmar) have said that “positive results” could come out of negotiations between Burma’s military chief and Aung San Suu Kyi on a constitutional clause preventing her from becoming the president.

Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy Party won a landslide victory in the Nov. 8 general elections. 

But she is barred from becoming president because of the Constitution’s Article 59 (f), which says anyone with foreign spouses and children cannot hold the executive office. Suu Kyi’s late husband was British.

In separate but identical broadcasts late Sunday, Sky Net and Burma National Television said “positive results could come out on the negotiation for the suspension of the constitution Article 59 (f).”

Meanwhile, the chairman of Burma’s parliament said Monday that the nominees for the country’s next president and two vice presidents will be known on March 17.

Parliament chairman Man Win Khine announced that the upper house, the lower House and the military will have to select one candidate each for the three posts on March 17.

Parliament will then take a vote and the person with the largest number of votes will become president, and the other two will be vice presidents.

Given that democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party has a majority in both houses of parliament, it is certain to get the president’s post