Esteban Lazo Hernandez (C), President of Cuba's National Assembly of People's Power, attends a session of Cuba's National Assembly of People's Power, in Havana, Cuba, April 18, 2018. Esteban Lazo has been re-elected on Wednesday as president of Cuba's National Assembly of People's Power at the plenary session of the ninth legislature of the Cuban parliament. (Xinhua/Joaquin Hernandez)

HAVANA, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Esteban Lazo has been re-elected on Wednesday as president of Cuba's National Assembly of People's Power at the plenary session of the ninth legislature of the Cuban parliament.

The senior official, 74, a member of the Politburo of the ruling Communist Party of Cuba, was approved unanimously to continue his post by 604 lawmakers attending the plenary at Havana's Convention Palace.

The re-elected president has performed his duty "in an efficient way" during the last five years, explained Gisela Duarte, president of the National Candidature Commission.

Esteban Lazo joined the Communist Party of Cuba in 1963, reaching the position of First Secretary in the provinces of Matanzas, Santiago de Cuba and Havana.

He served as Vice-president of the Council of State between 1992 and 2013 and is a member of the parliament since 1981.

The National Assembly of People's Power also ratified the lawyer Ana Maria Mari Machado as vice-president of the parliament and Miriam Brito as secretary.

After the election of the leaders of the legislature, the lawmakers must vote, in a direct and secret way, for the 31 members of the Council of State, including the successor of President Raul Castro.

The results will be announced on Thursday in another parliamentarian session.