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Myanmar / AFP
Myanmar’s Aung San SuuKyidropped plans to run two major ministries but will act as spokeswoman for the country’s new president, a ruling party official said on Monday.
Banned from becoming president by a junta-era constitution, SuuKyi has cemented control over the country’s first civilian-led government in decades by taking on a string of senior roles in the new administration.
She has vowed to rule “above” the president, picking school friend and close aide HtinKyaw for the role. Lawmakers from her National League for Democracy party are also pressing for a special “state counsellor” position for the Nobel laureate, an appointment that would allow her to liaise between the presidency and parliament. Last week the NLD said she would take on four cabinet posts—foreign, energy, education and the ministerial position in the president’s office.
But during a parliamentary session , the NLD put forward two new names for the energy and education portfolios, according to NLD spokesman Win Htein. ” SuuKyi will be the spokesperson for the president,” he added, without elaborating on the rejig.
The move will free up the 70-year-old’s already busy day-to-day responsibilities while reinforcing control over her proxy president HtinKyaw. Hopes are growing that the newly sworn-in government can accelerate the country’s economic and political rejuvenation after nearly half a century of military repression.