The job is vacant after another Suu Kyi loyalist, Htin Kyaw, resigned due to ill-health on Wednesday. Suu Kyi – who remains a national heroine in Myanmar despite growing international criticism over the Rohingya crisis in the northwest – is barred by the military-drafted constitution from assuming the top job because her sons have British citizenship. “U Win Myint, 66, is considered to be one of the candidates for the presidency, which was vacated by U Htin Kyaw for health reasons,” said the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar daily. Suu Kyi is known for keeping her cards close to her chest and operating with a very narrow group of trusted advisors. “If I have to describe him in one word, I would say: ‘a good person, and loyal to Aung San Suu Kyi’,” said Ye Htut, an upper house NLD lawmaker.

Source: Dhaka Tribune March 22, 2018 10:18 UTC