Myanmar parliament selects expected presidential choice

YANGON, Myanmar – Myanmar's parliament has taken a first step in selecting a replacement for President Htin Kyaw, who retired this week with ill health, by filling the empty seat of one of the country's three vice presidents.

Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party used its majority in the lower house on Friday to elect Win Myint as the new vice president, joining the two existing vice presidents selected two years ago by the upper house and the military, respectively. One of the vice presidents gets to serve as president, and Win Myint's selection next week by the combined houses of parliament is virtually assured.

Win Myint, like Htin Kyaw, is expected to cede his actual authority as leader to Suu Kyi in her specially created post of state counsellor.