Voters in Vietnam head to the polls to elect a new National Assembly, a body that ratifies decisions by the ruling Communist Party in the one-party state.

HANOI: Polling stations opened across Vietnam on Sunday as voters began casting ballots for members of the country’s National Assembly.

The legislative body is the nation’s top lawmaking institution but primarily serves to ratify decisions made by the ruling Communist Party.

Out of 864 candidates competing for 500 seats, only 65 are not party members.

The Southeast Asian nation of 100 million people is an economic success story, boasting 8% growth last year, but remains a repressive one-party state that often jails its critics.

In the capital Hanoi, patriotic red-and-yellow banners fluttered from lampposts, extolling the “national festival” where people “eagerly cast ballots”.

Elderly voters, well-dressed in suits or traditional costumes, were among the first to cast their votes at stations set up in community rooms and public buildings.

“I do expect top leaders after this election will make major changes to make our country better,” 73-year-old Nguyen Thi Kim told AFP at a polling station in a Hanoi high-rise.

Among the new parliament’s first tasks when it convenes next month will be to confirm top leaders already selected by the party at its twice-a-decade congress in January.

The president, prime minister and head of the national assembly will all be confirmed by lawmakers’ votes.

Top leader To Lam was reaffirmed as general secretary at the congress and is widely expected to also become president, a post requiring parliamentary approval.

This general election aims “to choose the most prestigious people to continue leading the country to more development,” To Lam said on live television after casting his ballot.

Most polling stations were due to close at 7:00 pm local time, with results not expected for at least a week.

 The Sun Malaysia