Millions in Vietnam to vote for a new legislature in general election

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Voters in Vietnam cast their ballots to select a new National Assembly on Sunday, two months after the ruling Communist Party reelected leader To Lam to the country’s top political post.

Nearly 79 million voters across the country are eligible to pick 500 representatives from 864 candidates to the rubber-stamp National Assembly. All candidates are vetted and pre-approved by the Communist Party, ensuring the assembly remains aligned with the party’s political direction.

The Communist Party tightly controls political activity, arguing that centralized leadership allows the country to pursue longterm development goals without disruptions.

The new National Assembly is expected to implement the policy agenda shaped at the congress, prioritizing sustained economic growth and political stability.

The election follows the Communist Party’s national congress in January, a political event held every five years that sets the country’s leadership lineup and policy priorities. At the congress, Lam was reelected as general secretary, the most powerful position in the political system.

“We have the people’s support in this election,” Lam said after casting his ballot in Hanoi, describing the vote as a national celebration where citizens choose representatives to guide development and safeguard the country’s sovereignty and stability.

Vietnam’s economy has expanded rapidly over the past decade, driven by manufacturing exports, foreign investment and its growing role in global supply chains. The country has positioned itself as an alternative production hub as companies diversify away from China, attracting major electronics and textile manufacturers.

It has now set an ambitious target of 10% or higher annual economic growth over the next five years, placing the private sector at the center of its development strategy in a notable shift for the communist state. Policymakers are now recalibrating the country's economy to push it toward higher-value industries, modernized production and wider use of science, technology and digital tools.

Vietnam’s leadership also faces challenges as the country’s export-driven economy grapples with uncertainty from rising trade tensions, including tariffs introduced by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Voter turnout in Vietnam’s elections is typically high, often exceeding 90%, with polling stations set up in cities, rural communities and remote regions to encourage participation.

“As a voter in this election, I believe I will be able to choose candidates with morals, dedication and competence to serve the country, bringing development and prosperity to our country and our people,” said retired official Doan Thi Bich.

The incoming National Assembly is expected to convene its first meeting in April to formally approve key government appointments and begin implementing the policy roadmap laid out at the party congress.

Voters check profiles of candidates before casting ballots to elect representatives in the National Assembly and people's councils in Hanoi, Vietnam, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Huy Han)

Voters check profiles of candidates before casting ballots to elect representatives in the National Assembly and people's councils in Hanoi, Vietnam, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Hau Dinh)

Voters wait to cast ballots to elect representatives in the National Assembly and people's councils in Hanoi, Vietnam, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Hau Dinh)

Voters cast ballots to elect representatives in the National Assembly and people's councils in Hanoi, Vietnam, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Hau Dinh)

Voters cast ballots to elect representatives in the National Assembly and people's councils in Hanoi, Vietnam, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Hau Dinh)

MADRID (AP) — Thousands of migrants have streamed into the tiny Spanish territory of Ceuta in North Africa from Morocco, prompting local officials to call for help from Spain's national government in Madrid to restore the border.

Videos and images from the frontier showed crowds of people, mainly Moroccans, walking around the breakwaters at an urban beach near a border checkpoint with Morocco onto local roads. The majority looked to be young men, though there were also families with women and children.

Spain’s Interior Ministry said it would guarantee its citizens' safety and border integrity, but that the government could not declare a national emergency over migration concerns.

The escalation at the frontier comes after a surge in migrants attempting to reach the small exclave, mainly by swimming, a day before. It was not immediately clear what prompted so many migrants to cross to Ceuta.

Here's what to know.

Ceuta and the larger Spanish territory of Melilla that is some 400 kilometers (250 miles) further south, are located on the northern shores of the Mediterranean coast at the tip of Africa. Both autonomous cities belong to Spain and share the European Union's only land borders with Africa.

In Spanish possession since 1580, Ceuta is home to a mixed population of Christians and Muslims, and Spanish and Moroccan residents and day workers who live in relative harmony.

Morocco does not officially recognize Ceuta and Melilla as Spanish territory, and often refers to them as occupied lands.

The city of 85,000 has been a flashpoint in major diplomatic crises in recent memory between Madrid and Rabat.

In May 2021, the Moroccan government dropped its border controls and let some 8,000 people from Morocco and sub-Saharan countries pour into Ceuta in just two days.

The move was broadly interpreted as retaliation from Morocco for Spain’s decision to allow a pro-independence leader from the disputed Western Sahara region to be treated for COVID-19 at a Spanish hospital.

Tensions were defused and the border restored only after Spain’s prime minister shifted Spain’s long-standing position on Western Sahara, and met with Moroccan King Mohammed VI the following year.

Spain is a main point of arrival into Europe for migrants seeking better economic opportunities or an escape from violence in their home countries.

Ceuta and its sister city Melilla are heavily fortified, as the territories are seen as a destination for those trying to reach Spain from Morocco and other parts of Africa.

Many migrants who reach Ceuta or Melilla are immediately turned back, while others held in migrant shelters are processed and can apply for asylum in Spain.

To reach Ceuta, migrants often swim from the Moroccan town of Castillejos, covering about 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) to reach Spanish territory. Others attempt the crossing from the nearby town of Belyounech, where the distance is shorter.

Still, migrant arrivals to Ceuta and Melilla are generally much lower than those reaching Spain through the Canary and Balearic Islands.

Spain's overall immigrant population has grown considerably in recent decades, with around 10 million people in the country of 50 million having been born elsewhere.

Many are from Colombia, Venezuela and Morocco, and work in key sectors of the Spanish economy, including agriculture, tourism and the service sector.

Migrants cross from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, Thursday, July 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Sempere)

Migrants cross from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, Thursday, July 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Sempere)

Migrants cross from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, Thursday, July 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Sempere)

Migrants cross from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, Thursday, July 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Sempere)