Vietnam's leader To Lam strengthens power in unanimous assembly vote

To Lam was unanimously elected as Vietnam's president by the communist-dominated general assembly, consolidating power in one person. This follows his temporary assumption of both the presidency and the general secretary role after resignations and deaths earlier in 2024. His rise stems from his role as Minister for Public Security, where he led an anti-corruption drive. The move marks a departure from Vietnam's traditional collective leadership model, raising comparisons to China's centralized power structure under Xi Jinping. While historical anti-Chinese sentiment exists among the Vietnamese population, relations between the two communist parties remain close. Despite this consolidation, analysts suggest that the Communist Party's central committee and Politburo will still provide checks on To Lam's power.

To Lam, the head of Vietnam's Communist Party, was elected president by the National Assembly on Tuesday. This move consolidates his power, marking a shift from collective leadership towards a more centralized authority. As party chief for less than two years, Lam has implemented significant reforms, including combining provinces and reducing bureaucracy, with the goal of achieving 10% annual economic growth. Having secured another term as party general secretary in January, Lam now holds both the top party and state positions. Experts suggest this unification of power mirrors China's model and effectively establishes Lam as Vietnam's "supreme leader," transitioning the country away from consensus-based governance.