Party General Secretary Tô Lâm (fourth from right), on behalf of deputies of the 16th National Assembly, presents flowers to congratulate Chairman of the 16th NA Trần Thanh Mẫn on Monday. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The 16th National Assembly (NA) officially commenced the first session in Hà Nội on Monday, marking its first working day under the chairmanship of Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn.

In the morning, the opening session was broadcast live by Việt Nam Television and Radio the Voice of Việt Nam.

The opening address was delivered by Chairman of the 15th NA Mẫn. The legislature also listened to remarks from Party General Secretary Tô Lâm, a report reviewing the election of deputies to the 16th NA and people’s councils at all levels for the 2026–31 term, and a report on the verification results of NA deputies’ eligibility.

The legislature then met in closed session, where lawmakers adopted a resolution on the number of Standing Committee members, with all 491 deputies present voting in favour, representing 98.20 per cent of the total number of NA deputies. Meanwhile, the resolutions on candidates for the election of the NA Chairperson, Vice Chairpersons, and Standing Committee members received 492 votes in favour, accounting for 100 per cent of those present and 98.40 per cent of the full membership. The NA also established a vote-counting board and proceeded to elect the Chairperson of the 16th tenure by secret ballot.

After that, the legislature convened in plenary session in the main hall, with proceedings broadcast live. During this session, deputies adopted the resolution on the Chairperson election, with 491 votes in favour from all deputies present. Later, Chairman of the 16th NA Mẫn took the oath of office and delivered his inaugural address.

In the afternoon, meeting again in closed session under the direction of the re-elected Chairman, lawmakers conducted secret ballots to elect the vice chairpersons of the 16th NA and members of its Standing Committee.

The assembly then approved two resolutions confirming these election results.

The resolution on the election of the vice chairpersons secured 496 votes in favour from all the deputies present at the sitting. Those elected as vice chairpersons of the 16th NA are Đỗ Văn Chiến, Nguyễn Khắc Định, Nguyễn Thị Thanh, Nguyễn Hồng Diên, Nguyễn Doãn Anh, and Nguyễn Thị Hồng.

The resolution on the election of the 16th NA Standing Committee members secured support from all 487 deputies present.

Several additional personnel-related resolutions were also passed. The resolution on the election of the Chairperson of the NA Council for Ethnic Affairs and heads of NA committees received 493 votes in favour. Those elected include Lâm Văn Mẫn as Chairman of the NA Council for Ethnic Affairs, Phan Chí Hiếu as Chairman of the NA Committee for Legal and Judicial Affairs, and Phan Văn Mãi as Chairman of the Committee for Economic and Financial Affairs, among others.

The resolution on the election of NA Secretary General and Chairperson of the NA Office was approved with 481 votes in favour from deputies present, with Lê Quang Mạnh elected to the post.

Meanwhile, the resolution on the election of the Auditor General of the State Audit Office of Việt Nam for the 2026–31 term received 485 votes in favour, with Nguyễn Hữu Nghĩa elected.

On Tuesday, the legislature is scheduled to meet in closed session in the morning to carry out procedures for the election of the State President. This will be followed by a plenary sitting broadcast live, during which the resolution on the election of the State President will be voted on. The newly elected President will then take the oath of office and deliver an inaugural address.

The final activities of the morning will take place in a further closed session, during which the legislature will consider and vote on a resolution on the organisational structure of the Government for the 2026–31 term; approve the candidate list for key positions, namely the Prime Minister, Vice State President, Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court, and Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy; and proceed to elect the Government leader by secret ballot.

In the afternoon plenary session, deputies will vote on a resolution on the election of the PM, followed by the oath-taking ceremony and inaugural address. The assembly will then meet in closed session to elect the Vice State President, the Chief Justice, and the Prosecutor General.

Subsequently, in plenary session, the NA will work on a resolution on the election of the Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court, followed by the oath-taking ceremony and inaugural address.

The assembly later will meet in closed session to vote on resolutions on the election of the Vice State President and the Prosecutor General, and to work on the Chief Justice’s proposal for the appointment of judges to the Supreme People’s Court. — VNA/VNS