Afghanistan, April 8 -- Vietnam's National Assembly on Tuesday unanimously elected Communist Party General Secretary To Lam as president for a five-year term, giving him control over both the party and the state.
The widely expected move makes To Lam the most powerful Vietnamese leader in decades and marks a significant departure from the country's traditional collective leadership structure.
Analysts say the consolidation of power could push Vietnam toward a more centralised and authoritarian model, while also allowing faster policy execution similar to the system in neighboring China.
The National Assembly approved the Communist Party's nomination with all 495 lawmakers present voting in favor, after which To Lam pledged loyalty to the...