In Vietnam’s the police minister, To Lam, was elected as the country’s new state president by its National Assembly on Wednesday. This move is seen by some analysts as possibly enabling Lam to vie for the position of general secretary of the ruling Communist Party later in life—the highest office in Vietnam.
Man replaced Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan as chairman of the National Assembly this week.It can be assumed that these changes may end a period of approximately two months that were characterized by heightened political instability marred by an exit from power of three out of five topmost leaders accused of malpractices whose details remain unknown.
Lawmakers used one-party state standard procedures to endorse unanimously a resolution concerning Lam’s election after he emerged only candidate in a secret vote. Earlier, last week, he had been nominated by his party.
Blazing furnace is an all-out anti-corruption campaign and 66-year-old To Lam is its leader because he serves as head of public security ministry. Critics say it politics against opponents during internal factionalism instead rather than widespread corruption which the drive seeks to eliminate. Consequently, foreign investors are shunning Vietnam’s where most have reduced their holdings in securities over recent months coinciding with adverse political news. Additionally billions of dollars in international aid and government spending have gone unspent due to this program strangling public administration.
After his Election,Lam told lawmakers, ”I will fight corruption resolutely and persistently.”
The State President occupies mostly ceremonial role but stands among four senior posts known as ‘four pillars’ within our nation: Party chief, Prime Minister and Parliament Speaker.
Following Lam’s election experts expect less internal fighting for now; however, still there are crucial years ahead since Trong who has been at helm since 2011 ends his third term no earlier than 2026 or even before then if retired prematurely.
Lam has more ambitions than just going into retirement with his appointment to presidency.” Florian Feyerabend, the representative in Vietnam’s of Konrad Adenauer Foundation, a think tank from Germany stated. Feyerabend pointed out that it is possible for the position to be used as a “springboard” by Lam into the office of party secretary.
Today afternoon, there will be voting by MPs on removing Mr. Lam from his post of Minister for police; this was not initially planned at the session.The person yet to occupy this ministerial slot remains unknown.
However, Lam’s rise has been marred with scandals too. In 2021, during COVID lockdown in Vietnam’s a video showed Nusret Gokce or “Salt Bae,” a celebrity chef feeding him gold-plated steak at his restaurant in London. The Turkish chef had removed it after going viral. Another one who made fun of Salt Bae later was sentenced to five years imprisonment for “anti-state propaganda.”
Moreover, that same year saw Lam as head of public security ministry when Vietnamese security services were accused of extraordinary rendition through Slovakia and Germany also blamed for complicity leading to diplomatic rows between both countries.
The US State Department’s 2023 human rights report on Vietnam’s cautioned about massive violations by the security forces and cited “credible reports that members of the security forces committed numerous abuses.”
