Vietnam Elects To Lam as President

In a landmark political shift, To Lam has been elected President of Vietnam by the National Assembly, marking the first time a single official simultaneously holds both the presidency and the position of General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam.

The vote, held Tuesday, grants To Lam control over both the party and the state, a rare consolidation of power in Vietnam’s traditionally collective leadership system. The move draws comparisons to Xi Jinping, who similarly combines top party and state roles in neighboring China.

In his inaugural address after taking the oath of office, To Lam described the dual role as both a profound honor and a solemn responsibility, emphasizing his commitment to serving the nation.

The appointment follows his re-election as General Secretary during the Communist Party Congress held earlier this year, reinforcing his position at the apex of Vietnam’s political hierarchy.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man announced that lawmakers unanimously approved To Lam’s presidency for the 2026–2031 term. In a parallel decision, parliament also appointed former central banker Le Minh Hung as Prime Minister, a figure widely seen as a close ally of To Lam.

To Lam initially assumed leadership of the Communist Party following the death of his predecessor, Nguyen Phu Trong, in 2024.

Since then, he has introduced sweeping reforms aimed at streamlining the state apparatus, including significantly reducing the size of the public sector, eliminating multiple ministries and agencies, and cutting nearly 150,000 government jobs. At the same time, his administration has launched major infrastructure initiatives to support long-term growth.

Despite global economic headwinds, Vietnam’s economy has shown strong resilience. According to official data, the country recorded a 7.8 percent growth rate in the first quarter of the year compared to the same period last year.

Exports surged by 19.1 percent, while imports rose by 27 percent, even as external challenges, including ongoing instability linked to conflicts in the Middle East, continue to pose risks.