Vietnam has a new president, To Lam, who already leads the Communist Party. The unification of power is copying the Chinese model and moving Hanoi towards tighter control.
Vietnam’s National Assembly elected To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party, as the country’s new president. The move marks the unification of the two top positions in Vietnamese politics, reminiscent of the leadership model in China under President Xi Jinping. Lam was reconfirmed as the party’s top official in January and now also takes on the role of head of state. After taking the oath, he called this dual responsibility a “sacred and noble duty.”
- To Lam was elected president and general secretary of the party at the same time.
- The combination of the two highest functions copies China’s centralized power model.
- Deputies unanimously supported Lam’s election, the mandate will last from 2026 to 2031.
- Lam eliminated political rivals, merged provinces, and reduced the size of the bureaucracy.
- Lam is pushing for reforms to achieve ten percent annual economic growth.
The Speaker of the National Assembly, Tran Thanh Man, announced that the resolution on Lam’s election was supported by 100 percent of the members present. His term will run from 2026 to 2031. Lam is the first leader to have won both top posts through standard party leadership selection processes, rather than as a successor following the death of a predecessor.
Unification of power
In less than two years as secretary-general, To Lam got rid of his political rivals and pushed through sweeping reforms. His strategy included merging provinces and reducing bureaucracy, which transformed the inner workings of the country. At the same time, Lam set an ambitious goal of achieving 10 percent annual economic growth, which he wants to strengthen Vietnam’s position as one of the fastest growing economies in Asia.
Vietnam officially has four main pillars of leadership: the General Secretary of the Communist Party, the President, the Prime Minister and the Speaker of the National Assembly. Although the president has limited powers in Vietnam, his role is crucial in representing the country on the international stage. However, the Secretary General remains the most influential political figure.
Ambitious reforms
Lam’s vision includes development-oriented reforms to boost economic growth and modernize the country. Vietnam, where the Communist Party is the only permitted political force, is trying to consolidate its position in the region and on the global stage under his leadership. Lam’s election as president thus symbolizes not only the consolidation of power, but also the continuation of the reform course, which is supposed to move the country towards further development.
