All eyes are on Myanmar’s capital, Naypyitaw, as the government prepares to make history by swearing in its first civilian president since the military takeover of 1962.
Htin Kyaw, a close aide to Aung San Suu Kyi, was voted in by parliament earlier this month. After the ceremony there will be a state dinner.
The president’s term lasts five years, and that’s a long time under the current arrangement. Suu Kyi, who is constitutionally barred from the post because she has foreign children, has said she will rule “above” the president and even sit next to him at summits. Let’s see how that works out.
Hundreds of journalists and invited guests descended on the gargantuan capital today. Here’s what the line looked like at the main entrance earlier this morning.
And here’s the media entrance.
But the wait is over. As of 9:30am the cavernous parliamentary building had started to fill up.
Guess what? We’re there too! Stay tuned for more updates.
