Myanmar's parliament confirmed it will pick the country's new president today after the three proposed candidates, including a close aide of Suu Kyi, passed a final administrative hurdle.

The vote comes as the formerly army-ruled nation transitions towards its first civilian government in decades. The frontrunner is Htin Kyaw, a respected writer and close friend of Suu Kyi.

He has been put forward by her National League for Democracy party to act as a proxy for democracy veteran Suu Kyi.

The two other candidates are ethnic Chin MP Henry Van Thio, a Suu Kyi ally put forward by the upper house, and the military's candidate Myint Swe, a retired army general still blacklisted by the United States.

Under Myanmar's complex constitution, the president is chosen from three candidates -- one put forward by each of the two legislative chambers and a third proposed by the military, who are reserved a quarter of the seats in parliament.