Myanmar’s parliament has elected Htin Kyaw as the country’s first non-military president since the army took power in a 1962 coup. A close adviser and loyal friend to Aung San Suu Kyi, the 69-year-old was nominated by the National League for Democracy party last week and voted into the presidency by parliament. Suu Kyi, who is barred from the presidency under an army-drafted constitution, has made clear she will be “above the president” and Htin Kyaw is expected to act as a proxy.

A final tally giving Htin Kyaw 360 out of 652 votes was met with applause. The two runners up, military nominee Myint Swe and ethnic minority Chin candidate Henry Van Thio, will become first and second vice-presidents respectively. Aung San Suu Kyi, herself a member of parliament, cast her vote and later smiled broadly and clapped when the results were announced. Myint Swe received 213 votes and Henry Van Thio took 79 votes.

The army also retains 25% of seats in parliament under a 2008 constitution that it drafted, giving it an effective veto on constitutional change. It also keeps key ministerial portfolios related to security. Myint Swe, 64, the military’s nominee, is a hardline conservative blacklisted by the US. He is a close ally to former junta leader Than Shwe and has been criticised for dealing harshly with opposition activists under military rule.

The constitution prevents the top job from going to anyone with foreign children. Aung San Suu Kyi, who spent 15 of 21 years under house arrest, has two British sons.