HANOI (Bloomberg): Some 78 million Vietnamese cast their votes on Sunday for parliamentary delegates, setting the stage for the country’s new president and prime minister to be confirmed when the National Assembly meets next month.
Red banners and propaganda campaigns have been on display across the country urging voter turnout in the one-party state as the government seeks to shore up support for its ambitious 10% growth agenda.
The balloting for the roughly 500 National Assembly deputies, who will be announced some time before March 25, follows the twice-a-decade Communist Party Congress where the key policies were set.
When the new parliament meets for the first time for its spring session - likely beginning April 6 - it will formally appoint officials to the top leadership positions.
The session will confirm whether Communist Party chief To Lam has secured the presidency, giving him dual roles and consolidating his grip on power. Deputies will also vote on single candidates for prime minister and parliament chair.
After casting his vote in Hanoi, Lam reiterated the goal of achieving fast, sustainable and stable development, while ensuring the nation’s sovereignty and security, according to a posting on the government website.
Out of the 864 candidates in the running for the legislature, who were all pre-screened by the National Election Council, only 64 are not party members, local media reported. Around 45% of the candidates are women, it said.
The vote takes place as Vietnam grapples with rising fuel prices and the risk of shortages due to the Mideast war, which may also impact the country’s inflation and growth targets this year.
The government, which has encouraged people to work from home and use public transport when possible, has dipped into its emergency fuel fund to stabilize gas prices but warned that if the conflict continues into April the "market may face more difficulties.”
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