Vietnam lawmakers on Tuesday elected as president Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong, the only candidate on the ballot, making him the most powerful man in the country where consensus leadership has traditionally kept strongman rule in check.

The newly-elected State President Nguyen Phu Trong took an oath of office for the 2016-21 tenure on Tuesday afternoon following the result of a morning vote by deputies of the 14th National Assembly (NA) during their on-going sixth session.