Vietnam ruling Communist Party chief Trong re-elected for 3rd term

Nguyen Thanh Bình, permanent deputy head of the Organisation Commission of the 12th Party Central Committee, announces the list of elected members on behalf of the Vote Counting Committee on Sunday (Jan 31). - Vietnam News/ANN

HANOI, Jan 31 (Reuters): Vietnam's ruling Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong, 76, has been re-elected for a rare third five-year term, state media reported on Sunday, cementing his position as one of the country's longest-serving leaders for decades.

Trong, who emerged on top in a power struggle at the last congress in 2016 and has spearheaded a "blazing furnace" crackdown on corruption in the last five years, was granted an exception to party rules which say people over the age of 65 should retire.