Suu Kyi’s party proposes law to make her ‘president’s boss’

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.  AP

YANGON, Myanmar — The party of Aung San Suu Kyi has submitted a proposal to parliament to create a new position for her as “state adviser,” which would allow her to have a powerful hand in running Myanmar.

Lawmaker Khin Maung Myint described the position as “the president’s boss,” indicating that Suu Kyi’s party is helping her to achieve a pledge to be above the president, who is her confidant.

The move marked the first legislative act of Myanmar’s new government, which took office a day earlier to become the first democratically elected after more than 50 years of military control.

Suu Kyi, who led her party to a landslide win in November elections, could not become president because of a junta-era constitution crafted to keep her out of the post. TVJ