In a historic, though brief, ceremony at the parliament in Naypyitaw, President Htin Kyaw has been officially sworn in.
He and vice presidents Henry Van Thio and Myint Swe took their oaths at around 10:10am this morning, finishing what was started on November 8 when the National League for Democracy won a resounding victory at the polls.
Party leader Aung San Suu Kyi is barred from the presidency on account of her foreign-born sons but has vowed to lead from “above”, with Htin Kyaw as a proxy. She will control four out of 18 ministries.
Now, for the first time in decades, Myanmar has a civilian government.
This is what the scene looked like in the capital, where journalists and diplomats are witnessing the transfer of power.
And in Yangon, where the excitement was, er, a little more tempered.
Happy handover day. It’s been a long time coming.
