Vietnam’s Top Security Official To Lam Confirmed As President

Vietnam’s top security official, To Lam, has been confirmed as the nation’s new president.

Lam's new role as head of state puts the 66-year-old in a “very strong position” to become the next Communist Party general secretary. I Photo: U.S. Department of State

He oversaw police and intelligence operations during a period when rights groups say basic liberties were systematically suppressed, and its secret service was accused of violating international law, David Rising reported for the Associated Press (AP).

Lam was confirmed by Vietnam’s National Assembly after his predecessor resigned amid an ongoing anti-corruption campaign that has shaken the country’s political establishment and business elites, resulting in multiple top-level government changes.

Vietnam’s presidency is largely ceremonial, but Lam's new role as head of state puts the 66-year-old in a “very strong position” to become the next Communist Party general secretary, the most important political position in the country, said Nguyen Khac Giang, an analyst at Singapore’s ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.

Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong was elected to a third term in 2021, but at age 80, he may not seek another term after 2026.

Trong, an ideologue who views corruption as the gravest threat facing the party, has led a sweeping anti-graft campaign.

Lam, as Vietnam’s top security official, has been a key figure in this campaign, which led to the loss of six of the politburo’s 18 members, including two former presidents and the parliamentary head.