To Lam: New Era for Vietnam's Communist Party

To Lam has been confirmed as the new chief of the Communist Party of Vietnam following the death of his predecessor. His tenure begins amidst internal political shifts and ongoing anti-corruption efforts. Lam is expected to continue the policies of his predecessor while establishing his leadership within the party.

Vietnamese President To Lam was confirmed Saturday as the new chief of the Communist Party after his predecessor passed away on July 19.

Lam will now serve as the general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the nation's most influential political position. State media did not specify if Lam will retain his role as president.

The previous general secretary, Nguyen Phu Trong, had wielded significant influence in Vietnamese politics since assuming the role in 2011. Trong was re-elected for a third term in 2021 and was known for viewing corruption as the party's gravest threat.

In his inaugural speech as the Communist Party chief, Lam emphasized the "urgent need to ensure the leadership of the party," vowing to uphold the legacies of his predecessor, particularly the anti-corruption campaign and a pragmatic foreign policy, termed bamboo diplomacy.

Lam's extensive career in the Ministry of Public Security, where he led the sweeping anti-corruption campaign from 2016, paved the way for his presidency this May following his predecessor's resignation due to the anti-graft drive.

According to Nguyen Khac Giang, a visiting fellow in the Vietnam Studies Program at Singapore's ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute, major changes in Vietnam's strategic approach are unlikely under Lam. However, his relative newness to governing implies that his leadership style is still unfolding.

Given the current political dynamics, Giang remarked that Lam's promotion might signal an end to the internal conflicts that have plagued the party. "To Lam is now the unchallenged power who will dominate Vietnamese politics for years, perhaps a decade, ahead," he noted.

The party will vote for the general secretary again in 2026, with Lam's performance being a critical factor. "For now, however, it seems a new era has dawned," Giang concluded.

(With inputs from agencies.)