BANGKOK (Sputnik) — On Tuesday, Myanmar's parliament elected Htin Kyaw, an aide to opposition leader and Nobel Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, the country’s new president. He will be sworn on March 31, becoming the first civilian president of the country.
"The president has submitted a proposal, in accordance with Section 202 of the Constitution <…> to reduce the number of ministries to 21 and the number of ministers — to 18," parliamentary speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than was quoted by the Eleven Myanmar newspaper.
It is unknown how the changes will affect the three major ministries run by the army: the defense, home affairs and border affairs ministries.
Constitutionally, Myanmar has a multiparty democratic system, but institutions of power are dominated by the military. One quarter of the country's parliament is represented by the military as well, while the other members are directly elected.
