Htin Kyaw, left, newly elected president of Myanmar, walks with National League for Democracy party leader Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar’s parliament in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Tuesday, March 15, 2016. For years he walked alongside Nobel laureate Suu Kyi, a quiet confidant in her campaign for democracy in Myanmar. On Tuesday, with her blessing, Htin Kyaw became the country’s president. AP
NAYPYITAW, Myanmar — Htin Kyaw, a confidante of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, has been sworn in as Myanmar’s president.
He took the oath of office in a joint session of Myanmar’s newly elected parliament Wednesday with his two vice presidents.
READ: Myanmar set to swear in first elected civilian president in decades
The ceremony ushers the longtime opposition party of Suu Kyi into government after 54 years of direct or indirect military rule.
Suu Kyi’s party, the National League for Democracy, won a landslide victory in November elections. She is ineligible to be president herself but has said she will run the government from behind the scenes.
Later in the day, outgoing President Thein Sein will formally hand over the presidency to Htin Kyaw, who assumes office April 1.
READ: Myanmar president to include Aung San Suu Kyi in his Cabinet