Stability in Vietnamese Leadership: Luong Cuong Elected State President

Luong Cuong has been elected as Vietnam's new state president by the parliament. His election is expected to stabilize Vietnamese politics. Cuong emphasizes defense enhancement and independent foreign policy. His appointment follows a period of political reshuffles and a significant leadership change in Vietnam.

In a decisive move, Vietnam's parliament has elected army general Luong Cuong as the new state president, bringing expected stability to the country's political landscape. At 67, Cuong succeeds To Lam, who, after his appointment in May, also became party chief following the sudden passing of general secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in July.

The unanimous backing by all 440 attending deputies underscores confidence in Cuong, whose inaugural address focused on bolstering defense capabilities and promoting a multilateral foreign policy. He aims to modernize Vietnam's military forces, which predominantly consist of Russian-made arms, amid slow recent diversification efforts.

Cuong's ascension comes after holding a significant position within the Communist Party, ranking fifth in the country's hierarchy. Diplomats suggest Lam's resignation from presidency, a post he took during an anti-corruption campaign that saw key leadership resignations, reflects an internal power-sharing compromise intended to last until 2026.

(With inputs from agencies.)