According to state media, Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party has put forward the public security minister as the next president, following the resignation of his predecessor as part of an anti-corruption campaign.
On Saturday, the Vietnam News Agency reported that To Lam, aged 66, was selected by the party’s central committee. Lam has served as the public security minister since 2016 and is known for taking a firm stance against human rights movements within the country.
In March, President Vo Van Thuong stepped down after just over a year in office due to “violations” and “shortcomings” as stated by the party.
Thuong was the second president to resign in two years amidst an anti-corruption crackdown, which has resulted in the dismissal of several high-ranking politicians and the trial of prominent business figures for fraud and corruption. When assuming office, Thuong had pledged to combat corruption and was reportedly close to party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, who holds significant influence in Vietnam.
The country’s anti-corruption campaign, spearheaded by Trong, has ensnared thousands of individuals, including top officials and business leaders, in what is described as the “blazing furnace” against corruption.
Tran Thanh Man, aged 61, was also nominated as the new head of Vietnam’s National Assembly, according to state media, making him one of the country’s four most influential leaders. Man replaces Vuong Dinh Hue, who resigned last month citing “violations and shortcomings”.
While the nominations have been endorsed by the party’s central committee, they are subject to official approval by the National Assembly, scheduled to convene next week.
The central committee emphasized the necessity for all top leadership to demonstrate unity, exemplary behavior, and wholehearted dedication to the common cause.
In April, a court in Vietnam handed down a death sentence to a prominent property tycoon for her involvement in a $12.5 billion financial fraud case, the largest in the country’s history.
Truong My Lan, chair of major developer Van Thinh Phat, was found guilty of embezzlement, bribery, and violations of banking regulations at the conclusion of her trial in Ho Chi Minh City.
Lan’s arrest in October 2022 was among the most notable in the ongoing anti-corruption drive initiated in 2016 and intensified since 2022.
