As part of a broad anti-corruption effort, the National Assembly of Vietnam has confirmed Vo Van Thuong as the new president of the nation.
Legislators approved Thuong, 52, as president on Thursday during a special session after the Communist Party in power nominated him as the only candidate on Wednesday.
Despite being mainly ceremonial, the presidency is one of Vietnam's top four political positions.
Thuong received the support of 487 of the 488 lawmakers in attendance at the National Assembly, according to state-run Viet Nam News.
Thuong's appointment occurs during a time of political unrest in Vietnam, where the all-powerful Communist Party is eradicating corruption and factional fighting has resulted in the firing of a number of ministries.
The election comes after his predecessor, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, was abruptly ousted in January. The party held him accountable for "violations and misconduct" by officials under his command.
The country's "blazing furnace" anti-corruption campaign was seen as significantly intensifying with Phuc's departure as president.
Thuong declared he would "resolutely" carry on the fight against corruption in his first address to the parliament as Vietnam's new leader.
The recently elected president pledged to "strive to fulfill to the best of my abilities the responsibilities and missions entrusted by the party, state, and the people" at a swearing-in ceremony, according to the Viet Nam News.
According to the news source, he also vowed "to continuously study and follow President Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality, and lifestyle".
Thuong, the youngest member of the party's Politburo, the top decision-making body of the nation, is regarded as a party veteran who started his political career in communist youth groups while a student.
He is generally regarded as being close to Nguyen Phu Trong, the party's general secretary and the most important figure in Vietnam who is responsible for the party's fight against corruption.
Source: Aljazeera.com
