Myanmar will hold the presidential election on Wednesday to fill the presidency vacancy left by U Htin Kyaw who resigned from the post on March 21.
The presidential election will be contested among three vice presidents, namely Vice Presidents U Myint Swe, U Henry Van Thio and U Win Myint. U Win Myint was elected as vice president last week from the House of Representatives (Lower House).
U Win Myint from the National League for Democracy (NLD) was the former speaker of the House of Representatives who also resigned from the post last week to pave the way for the election.
Resignation of Myanmar’s Lower House speaker U Win Myint immediately after President U Htin Kyaw’s sudden resignation on March 21 fuelled speculation that Myint is tipped as the next President of the country.
Myint is believed to be close to State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi’s and one of the favorites among other senior NLD members. He became the Lower House speaker in February 2016 after the NLD won the general election in 2015.
The section 73 (a) of the Constitution says “One of the two Vice-Presidents who has won the second highest votes in the Presidential election shall serve as Acting President if the office of the President falls vacant due to his resignation, death, permanent disability or any other cause.” And section 73 (b) says, “If the office of the President becomes vacant when the Union Parliment is in session, the Acting President shall promptly intimate the Head of the Union Parliament to fill the vacancy within seven days.”