Myanmar’s first parliament convened Jan. 31, electing new speakers for both chambers and paving the way for the selection of the country’s new president. Shwe Man, a former general ranked third in the ruling military junta, was elected speaker of the lower house while Khin Aung Myint, the current culture minister and also a former general, was named speaker of the upper house. Parliament is set to nominate at least three possible candidates for president, with current Prime Minister Thein Sein deemed most likely to get the position, according to the Deutsche Presse-Agentur.
Meanwhile, Canada has expressed disappointment over the Burmese Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss an appeal made by the National League for Democracy, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, regarding its dissolution in 2010.
