Myanmar President Thein Sein has resigned as chairman of the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and has been replaced by its vice-chairman, Shwe Mann, according to the party's Union Daily on Thursday.
The move, though long delayed, is in accordance with the 2008 constitution: "If the president and the vice-presidents are members of a political party, they shall not take part in its party activities during their term of office from the day of their election."
The handover of the USDP chairmanship was reportedly announced at a three-day party youth function on Wednesday.
Shwe Mann, who also holds the post of Speaker of the House of Representatives (Lower House), is considered a strong proponent of Myanmar’s market-oriented economic reforms.
Quitting his military title of general, Thein Sein ran for the USDP in the November 2010 general election, in which his party won a majority of parliamentary seats, becoming the ruling party. In March 2011, Thein Sein won the presidential election, and was sworn into office for a five-year term on March 30. 2011.
