Vietnam’s parliament elects party leader To Lam as new state president

The former head of public security holds a double mandate after securing a second term as Communist Party general secretary.

Lawmakers unanimously elected Communist Party secretary general To Lam as Vietnam’s state president for the next five years. (EPA Images pic)

HANOI: Vietnam’s lawmakers unanimously elected Communist Party secretary general To Lam as the country’s state president for the next five years, a parliament official said after the vote on Tuesday.

In a widely anticipated move, Lam was elected by lawmakers in the National Assembly. The Parliament endorsed the Communist Party’s nomination, which officials said was finalised in a meeting at the end of March.

The former head of public security has now a double mandate to rule the country for the next five years, after he secured a second term as general secretary in January.