Myanmar Parliament approved Bill to grant PM-like role to Aung San Suu Kyi

Myanmar's (Burmese) Parliament in Naypyidaw on 5 April 2016 passed a bill that gives Aung San Suu Kyi a role similar to that of Prime Minister. The Lower House passed the bill to create the post of state counsellor, which now requires only presidential approval to become law.

Earlier, the bill has gone through the Upper House and now will be sent to the President Htin Kyaw for the approval.

Myanmar Parliament elected Htin Kyaw as first civilian President

Unelected military representatives holding a quarter of Parliamentary seats boycotted the vote, calling the bill unconstitutional. Suu Kyi's party won elections but she is not allowed to be president.

Clause 59 (F) of the Burmese Constitution bars candidates with foreign spouses or children but Suu Kyi's two sons hold British passports.

The new democratically elected National League for Democracy (NLD) government of Myanmar thinks that the clause was written specifically to prevent 70-year-old Nobel laureate Suu Kyi from taking office. 

At present, Aung San Suu Kyi is to head four cabinet posts including foreign affairs, president’s office, education, and energy ministries.

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