Authored by Khanh Vu, Phuong Nguyen, and Francesco Guarascio
HANOI, April 7 (Reuters) – On Tuesday, Vietnam’s legislative body unanimously appointed Communist Party Secretary General To Lam as the nation’s state president for the upcoming five-year term, establishing him as Vietnam’s most influential leader in decades.
This anticipated development signals a departure from Vietnam’s long-standing collective leadership model, centralizing power in one individual. Analysts suggest this could steer the one-party state towards increased authoritarianism, while also facilitating quicker decision-making, akin to neighboring China.
The parliament’s website reported that all 495 deputies present at Tuesday’s National Assembly session approved the Communist Party’s chosen candidate, with five lawmakers absent. Officials previously indicated that nominations for key state leadership positions were finalized during a late March meeting.
Having previously served as the head of public security, To Lam now holds a dual mandate to govern the country for the next five years, following his re-election as general secretary in January.
Later on Tuesday, parliament is scheduled to elect a new prime minister to succeed the outgoing Pham Minh Chinh.
LAM COMMITS TO INNOVATIVE GROWTH FRAMEWORK
Following the vote, Lam addressed the deputies in a televised speech, expressing his honor in holding both roles. He vowed to implement “a fresh growth paradigm driven by science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation” and emphasized prioritizing self-sufficiency in defense.
He stated that his primary objectives include ensuring stability, fostering rapid and sustainable national development, and enhancing “all facets of people’s lives.”
Analysts commented that Lam’s combined roles could streamline his pursuit of these objectives, though they cautioned about the dangers of excessive power concentration.
“Consolidating more power in To Lam’s hands could introduce risks to Vietnam’s political framework, such as heightened authoritarianism,” noted Le Hong Hiep, a senior fellow at the ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore.
However, such centralization “could enable Vietnam to craft and execute policies more swiftly and effectively,” thereby bolstering growth, he added.
The combination of these two positions “will usher in a new normal for Vietnam’s domestic politics, invalidating most previous assumptions about the country’s political landscape, including those concerning collective leadership,” remarked Alexander Vuving of the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in the United States.
Lam briefly held both positions for several months following the death of the late party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in 2024.
Even after handing over the state presidency to army general Luong Cuong, Lam often behaved as if he still held the office, undertaking numerous travels and representing the nation in meetings with international leaders.
REFORM-MINDED, SUPPORTS DOMESTIC LEADERS
During his initial period as party chief, the 68-year-old Lam initiated extensive economic reforms aimed at boosting Vietnam’s competitiveness, which garnered both commendation and critique.
Lam has pledged to pursue double-digit growth through a novel development strategy that reduces reliance on low-cost manufacturing, a longtime foundation of Vietnam’s export-driven expansion predominantly led by foreign multinational corporations.
While Lam’s actions have at times caused unease within the administration and business community, he has demonstrated practical adaptability in their execution.
He has supported the expansion of private conglomerates but, prior to his re-appointment, also issued a directive underscoring the pivotal role of state-owned enterprises to appease party traditionalists.
Foreign investors, a crucial element of Vietnam’s export-dependent economy, have frequently lauded the nation’s political stability and view Lam as a pro-business figure. Nevertheless, his backing of national champions and his drive for rapid growth have prompted concerns among some regarding favoritism, corruption risks, asset bubbles, and inefficiency.
In foreign policy, Lam has also adopted a pragmatic stance.
He has upheld Vietnam’s “Bamboo Diplomacy,” seeking to balance relationships with major global powers while broadening international partnerships.
“Lam’s dual role will not signal any shifts in Vietnam’s foreign policy, even if there are apprehensions that Vietnam is concentrating more authority in a single individual,” stated Khang Vu, a visiting scholar at Boston College.
(Reporting by Khanh Vu, Phuong Nguyen, and Francesco Guarascio; Edited by David Stanway)