Vietnam’s National Assembly has elected To Lam, the former Public Security Minister, as the country’s new president.

This decision follows the resignation of Vo Van Thuong, who stepped down due to allegations of violating Communist Party rules.

Vietnamese lawmakers voted for To Lam after the Communist Party announced his candidacy on Saturday. To Lam succeeds Vo Van Thuong, who resigned in mid-March. Before his election as president, To Lam stepped down from his role as public security minister.

Since Vo Van Thuong's resignation, Vice President Vo Thi Anh had been serving as the acting president. In Vietnam's one-party system, the presidency is one of the top four positions in the government, along with the Communist Party General Secretary, the Prime Minister, and the Chairman of the National Assembly.

To Lam was born on July 10, 1957, in Nghia Tru commune, Van Gang district, in northern Hung Yen province. He studied at the People's Security Academy from October 1974 to July 1979 and began his career at the Ministry of Public Security in July 1979. He became deputy public security minister in August 2010 and was appointed public security minister in April 2016.

To Lam’s election represents a significant change in Vietnam's political landscape as the country continues to address internal challenges within its one-party system. (ILKHA)