Vietnam picks ex-state security official as new prime minister
At an official ceremony on Monday (April 5), Vietnam's National Assembly confirmed Pham Minh Chinh, a 62-year-old career security official, as the country's next Prime Minister. Chinh was the sole nominee put forward by the ruling Communist Party at a congress earlier this year and won 96.25% of the vote in the National Assembly. He was formerly head of the Central Organisation Commission of the Communist Party, as well as deputy minister of the Ministry of Public Security. This move completes the five-yearly renewal of Vietnam's top four positions, as the country seeks to maintain economic growth, contain the coronavirus pandemic, and balance relations with Beijing and Washington. Chinh will replace former Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, who was confirmed earlier on Monday as the country's new President, a largely ceremonial role. Vietnam has no paramount ruler and is officially led by four "pillars": the powerful General Secretary of the Communist Party, the President, the Prime Minister, and the chair of the National Assembly.0
