Suu Kyi's former schoolmate nominated as president

Naypyidaw

A FORMER schoolmate of Aung San Suu Kyi was nominated as a presidential candidate in Myanmar's Parliament on Thursday, ending weeks of speculation that the revered pro-democracy leader herself would take that role.

In a subdued session on Thursday, Ms Suu Kyi's party members in the Lower House of Parliament nominated Htin Kyaw, a trusted adviser who runs an education foundation named for Ms Suu Kyi's mother, as the party's candidate in the presidential selection process that started on Thursday.

If he is chosen, Mr Htin Kyaw would be the first leader in decades not to come from the ranks of the military in Myanmar.

Ms Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) will dominate the historic selection process as it holds a comfortable majority in Parliament after a landslide victory…