US EditionVietnam elects Communist Party chief as president, echoing China’s power structure
The vote gives Lam stronger control as he pushes reforms to lift growth above 10% and manage trade pressure and economic slowdowns.
- On Tuesday, Vietnam's National Assembly elected Communist Party Secretary General To Lam as state president, consolidating the country's top party and state roles. All 495 deputies present endorsed the nomination for his five-year mandate.
- The rare concentration of power mirrors China, where Xi Jinping holds both top posts. While Lam briefly held both roles in 2024 following General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's death, this is his first official five-year double mandate.
- Lam vowed to pursue a 'new growth model' targeting at least 10% annual growth, emphasizing science and digital transformation. The export-reliant nation faces inflationary pressures and US tariff uncertainty, with shipments to the US comprising around 30% of GDP.
- Le Hong Hiep, senior fellow at the ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute, said the consolidation could enable Vietnam to "formulate and implement policies more quickly and effectively," though it risks increased authoritarianism.
- Parliament is scheduled to select a new prime minister later Tuesday, while the next central bank governor is expected Wednesday. Scholars note the double-hatting will not signal changes in Vietnam's 'Bamboo Diplomacy' despite power concentration concerns.
83 Articles
83 Articles
The National Assembly unanimously re-elected Tran Thanh Man as president of the legislative body for the 16th legislature
To Lam | President of Vietnam: Since Tuesday, the most important positions in socialist Vietnam have been in the hands of one man, just like in neighboring China. The…
To Lam was already the secretary of the Communist Party: now he is also the president of the country, which will allow him to concentrate much on power.
To Lam was elected President of Vietnam and sworn in.
Vietnam's General Secretary To Lam Also Assumes Presidency, Granting Himmall Authority on Par with Xi Jinping; Power Concentrated in a Single Person. As To Lam, the top-ranking Communist Party General Secretary in Vietnam, assumed the concurrent presidency on the 7th, assessments are emerging that a system of concentrated power in one person, similar to that of China's President Xi Jinping, has begun in earnest. The Vietnamese National Assembly …
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