Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the National League for Democracy party, at a session of Parliament in Myanmar last week. What her specific post in the new government will be may not be known for days. Credit Hein Htet/European Pressphoto Agency        

Aung San Suu Kyi Nominated as Minister in Myanmar’s Government

 International New York Times | 22 March 2016

NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar — Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will be a minister in Myanmar’s new government, according to a list of nominees for cabinet positions released on Tuesday by the country’s president-elect, U Htin Kyaw.

The move ensures that Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace laureate whose National League for Democracy party won a landslide victory in November elections, will officially hold a high-ranking position despite being barred from the presidency. The party had already said that Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi, its leader and Myanmar’s most popular politician by far, would give orders to the president regardless of her title.

Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi’s specific post was not announced on Tuesday and may not be known for days. Analysts had suggested that she might take the role of foreign minister, which would enable her to sit on the powerful National Defense and Security Council. She could also hold more than one post; one leaked document said that in addition to the foreign affairs ministry, her portfolio would include the ministries of education, energy and the presidential office.

Despite her party’s victory in the landmark election last year, Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi cannot serve as president because of a clause in the country’s military-drafted Constitution, which bars anyone with foreign relatives from holding the post. Her two sons have British citizenship, and the clause is believed to have been written specifically to prevent her from becoming president.

Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi said last year that she would be “above” the president. Her close ally, Mr. Htin Kyaw, was elected president by Parliament last week.