The election of National League for Democracy candidate Htin Kyaw as Myanmar's president on Tuesday, along with an NLD candidate and a military candidate as vice-presidents, marks a significant power transition in the country.

Given that the smooth transition of power remains a top priority for Myanmar's democratic process, it is indeed encouraging that various parties have shown a relatively high level of reason and willingness to compromise. But this also means the sharp differences among them may only have been temporarily shelved.

Taking a long-term perspective, it is clear Myanmar's democratic process will inevitably lead to the weakening of the military's influence on national politics.