Vietnam’s To Lam Becomes Communist Party Chief Following Predecessor’s Death

Vietnamese President To Lam was confirmed as the new chief of the Communist Party after his predecessor died on July 19. Lam will now serve as the general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, which is the country’s most powerful political role, according to state media. It is uncertain if Lam will continue in his role as president.

The previous general secretary, Nguyen Phu Trong, had been a dominant figure in Vietnamese politics since taking office in 2011. He was re-elected to a third term in 2021 and was known for his strong stance against corruption within the party. Lam, who had over four decades of experience in the Ministry of Public Security, took over as minister in 2016.

As Vietnam’s top security official, Lam spearheaded Trong’s extensive anti-corruption efforts until May, when he assumed the presidency following the resignation of his predecessor, who had been implicated in the campaign.