Vietnam’s Communist Party has appointed To Lam, the current police minister, as the new state president. The announcement came on Saturday, as part of a significant leadership reshuffle in the nation.
This decision follows the resignation of Vo Van Thuong, the previous president, who stepped down in March after being accused of breaking party rules, just a year into his term.
This leadership change is notable because it is the third time in less than 18 months that a state president or a parliament speaker has resigned in Vietnam. These resignations are part of a major anti-corruption campaign that has caused concern among foreign investors. The campaign is seen as creating uncertainty and slowing down bureaucracy.
To Lam, who is 66 years old, is a powerful figure in Vietnamese politics. He was chosen by the Communist Party’s Central Committee earlier in the week, but the nomination was only made public on Saturday.
The Vietnamese parliament is expected to approve his appointment soon. Although the role of the president is mainly ceremonial, it is one of the top four political positions in Vietnam, alongside the party chief, the prime minister, and the parliament speaker.
Many believe that To Lam’s new position might be a step towards becoming the party chief, which is the most powerful job in Vietnam. The current party chief, Nguyen Phu Trong, is in his third term and might step down before his term ends in 2026.
The party also announced Tran Thanh Man as the new chairman of the National Assembly. He replaces Vuong Dinh Hue, who resigned last month over unspecified “violations and shortcomings.” Tran Thanh Man, who is 61 years old, has been the deputy chairman of the parliament since 2021.
The appointments of To Lam and Tran Thanh Man have been supported by the party’s Central Committee. In addition, the party named four new members to the Politburo, which is the top decision-making body in Vietnam.
This follows the removal of Truong Thi Mai, the fifth-ranking leader in the Politburo, making her the sixth high-ranking official to resign since late 2022.
To Lam has been the Minister of Public Security since 2016 and joined the Politburo in 2021. He has played a key role in the anti-corruption campaign, which has led to the prosecution or resignation of many officials and business leaders. However, his career has had its controversies.
In 2021, a video of To Lam eating a gold-encrusted steak at a London restaurant went viral. The steak was prepared by celebrity chef “Salt Bae” during a time when Vietnam was under a COVID-19 lockdown. This caused public outrage and the video was later removed. In addition, a noodle vendor who mocked the incident was sentenced to five years in prison for “anti-state propaganda.”
Moreover, in 2017, under To Lam’s leadership, Vietnam’s security services were involved in a controversial abduction of a Vietnamese businessman from Germany, which strained Vietnam’s relations with Germany and Slovakia.
These recent changes in Vietnam’s leadership reflect the ongoing political and anti-corruption efforts within the country. The impact of these efforts on Vietnam’s political stability and economic environment continues to be closely watched by both domestic and international observers.
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