Vietnam reports participation of almost all eligible voters in parliamentary elections. A country with a single party thus confirms the firm position of the communists.
More than 99 percent of the 79 million eligible voters cast their ballots in Vietnam’s parliamentary election on Sunday. Their results are expected in a week at the earliest. This was reported by the AFP agency with reference to the local media.
- More than 99 percent of eligible voters participated in the Vietnamese parliamentary elections.
- Vietnam operates as a one-party state with a constitutionally enshrined ruling Communist Party.
- The National Assembly elects the president and prime minister, approves laws and the state budget.
Vietnam is a country with one political party. The only party allowed is the Communist Party of Vietnam, whose leading role in society is directly enshrined in the constitution.
Powers of Parliament
The five-hundred-member National Assembly is the only body that can pass laws. It elects and dismisses key state officials, including the president, prime minister and chief justice. It approves the state budget, economic development plans and oversees the government’s activities.
Although the parliament formally has strong powers, in practice most of the important decisions are taken by the Communist Party and the deputies then only confirm them. Out of 864 candidates for deputies, only 65 were not members of the Communist Party, which is nine fewer than in the elections five years ago.
The first steps of the new parliament
Among the first tasks of the new parliament after its constituent session in April will be the confirmation of politicians in the highest positions, who were elected by the delegates of the January congress of the Communist Party.
To Lam, who has been confirmed as the party’s general secretary, is also expected to assume the office of president. He will thus become the first politician who secured both top positions at the party convention and did not get into them after the death of his predecessor.
Economic growth of Vietnam
Vietnam is one of the fastest growing economies in Asia. Last year saw economic growth of eight percent. In almost two years as Secretary General, it was Lam who took care of reducing the bureaucratic burden, pushed through large-scale investments in infrastructure and tried to promote economic growth.
