Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi`s party on Friday nominated Shwe Mann, one of the country`s most powerful politicians, to head a prominent legal advisory panel, as the freshly-elected parliament prepares to choose a new president.
Shwe Mann, the No.3 in the junta that ran Myanmar for half a century before giving way to a semi-civilian government in 2011, grew closer to Suu Kyi in the legislature`s last term, becoming a key adviser since her massive election win in November.
The elections, in which Suu Kyi`s National League for Democracy (NLD) won 80 percent of the elected seats, kicked off a lengthy transition that will end on April 1, when the new government officially begins its term.
The NLD-dominated parliament started its term this week. The appointment of Shwe Mann, a former speaker of parliament, will allow Suu Kyi to draw on his deep understanding of the army and the outgoing government to boost her firepower in the assembly.