Vietnam’s Common Secretary of the Communist Celebration To Lam. File
| Photograph Credit score: AP
Polling stations opened in Vietnam, AFP journalists reported on Sunday (March 15, 2026), as voters started casting their ballots for members of the Nationwide Meeting of the one-party state.
The Nationwide Meeting is the nation’s high legislative physique, however serves primarily to ratify choices by the ruling Communist Celebration. The Southeast Asian nation of 100 million is each an financial success story, boasting 8% final 12 months, and a repressive one-party state that usually jails its critics.
Out of 864 candidates for the 500-seat legislature, which serves primarily to ratify choices by the ruling Communist Celebration, solely 65 aren’t get together members. Within the capital Hanoi, patriotic red-and-yellow banners fluttered from lampposts and site visitors lights, extolling the “nationwide competition” the place individuals “eagerly solid ballots”.
Aged voters, well-dressed in fits or conventional costumes, had been among the first to solid their ballots at polling stations.
“I do count on high leaders after this election will make main adjustments to make our nation higher,” Nguyen Thi Kim, 73, advised AFP at a polling station arrange in a group room of a high-rise residential block in Hanoi.
Among the many new Parliament’s first duties when it sits subsequent month will likely be to substantiate high leaders already chosen by the get together at its twice-a-decade congress in January.
The President, Prime Minister, and head of the nationwide Meeting will all be confirmed by lawmakers’ votes. High chief To Lam was reaffirmed as normal secretary on the congress, however he’s extensively anticipated to change into President as effectively — a publish that requires approval by lawmakers.
This normal election goals “to decide on essentially the most prestigious individuals to proceed main the nation to extra growth”, Mr. To Lam stated on stay TV after casting his poll.
Most polling stations had been as a consequence of shut at 7:00 p.m. (1200 GMT), with outcomes not anticipated for not less than every week.
Printed – March 15, 2026 07:07 am IST