Myanmar military picks hardliner Myint Swe to work with Suu Kyi’s proxy president

Myanmar’s military nominated a former junta stalwart who remains on a US sanctions list as its choice for vice-president on Friday, pointing to battles ahead for National League for Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her hand-picked president.

Myanmar’s first democratically elected government for more than 50 years faces a formidable challenge delivering the reform and economic growth demanded by the electorate while working alongside a military that retains much political power.

The lower house of parliament voted on Friday to confirm Htin Kyaw, a close friend and confidant of Nobel laureate Suu Kyi, as its presidential candidate. That brought the top office a step closer for the man expected to rule as her proxy.

READ MORE: Suu Kyi loyalist confirmed for Myanmar presidential race

Across town in the capital of Naypyitaw, military MPs met behind closed doors and nominated retired general Myint Swe as their candidate. He was head of the feared military intelligence under former junta leader Than Shwe.

When Than Shwe ordered a crackdown on anti-junta protests led by Buddhist monks in 2007, known as the Saffron Revolution, Myint Swe was the head of special operations in Yangon.

“We held a meeting to decide the vice presidential candidate. There was no one who disagreed on the proposal,” one of the 166 military lawmakers, who under the constitution hold a quarter of seats in parliament, said.

Suu Kyi has said she planned to form a government of reconciliation to help bridge the deep divisions in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, after nearly 50 years of military rule.