Vietnam's president takes top job as Communist Party chief

Vietnamese President To Lam was named on Saturday to the nation's top position, general secretary of the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam, replacing Nguyen Phu Trong, who died two weeks ago.

Lam, 67, had temporarily taken on the party chief's duties on July 18, a day before Trong's death, as his health deteriorated.

Party delegates unanimously supported Lam's nomination, officials told a press conference.

Addressing the delegates, he vowed to inherit and promote Trong's legacy, make no changes to the Southeast Asian nation's foreign policy, focus on achieving its socio-economic development goals and continue a campaign against graft.

"In the coming time, the work on anti-corruption will be continued fiercely," Lam told the press conference. "Personally, I feel fortunate that I have much experience in handling anti-graft campaigns during the time I worked at the police ministry."

Vietnam, a major destination for manufacturing investment, has long been favoured by multinational corporations for its political stability but experienced major turbulence in recent months that officials said was fuelled by the anti-graft effort.

The nation does not formally have a paramount leader, but the head of the party has a more prominent role than others after Trong beefed up its power during his 13-year tenure.

Lam, a career security officer, had been seen as long aiming to become party chief, with experts calling the presidency a stepping stone for the top job.

"It is a sign of a temporary halt of internal fighting within the party," says Nguyen Khac Giang, a Vietnam expert at the Singapore think tank ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.

"Although Lam vowed to push forward the anti-corruption campaign, the campaign may slow down a little as he may prioritize stabilising the party system before the party congress in 2026."

It was not immediately clear whether Lam would retain both top jobs until the legislative session ends in 2026 or whether a new president would be chosen.

Lam was elected president in May after leading the sweeping campaign of high-profile investigations against corruption as police minister. He replaced Vo Van Thuong, who had been in the job for about a year when he quit amid accusations of unspecified wrongdoing.

Officials and diplomats said the party had discussed possibly naming a new president so that Lam could focus on the party chief job. Discussions may still be under way, one diplomat said on Saturday.

If Lam retains both jobs, he may boost his powers and possibly adopt a more autocratic leadership style, officials have said, similar to that of Xi Jinping, who is China's party chief and state president.

That would be a change for Vietnam, which, unlike its far larger neighbour, has engaged in more collective decision-making, with leaders subject to multiple checks.

It would not, however, be unprecedented. Trong held both top jobs for nearly three years until April 2021 after the death of a former president.

"If the plenum ends without naming a new state president to replace Lam, it signals a new chapter for Vietnam," Giang said. "This practice can then become a norm, not just until 2026 but even after that."

Xi congratulated Lam on his new role, the official Xinhua news agency said.