In what must have been a very emotional move, President Thein Sein has vacated the official residence in Naypyitaw and moved to his own home, 7Day News Journal reported this week.
Thein Sein has a private home in Naypyitaw, so he won’t be going too far. But the figurative journey is quite the leap.
The president’s Union Solidary and Development Party lost the election in November to Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy. While the constitution still bars Suu Kyi from the highest office because her two children are foreign nationals, the NLD has the votes to select the person who will be occupying the stately digs in Naypyitaw.
“The president’s house is ready for the future president,” an unnamed senior official told 7Day.
Myanmar’s parliament nominates three candidates for president: one from the Upper House, one from the Lower House, and one from the unelected military MPs, who control 25 percent of the legislature. After the newly elected lawmakers – most of them from the NLD – take their seats on February 1, they will begin the nominating process.
But Thein Sein’s term doesn’t officially end until March 31, which means his new house still has some alone time before the next guest moves in.
Unless the interior decorators are already there?
