Lam’s appointment comes after a major anti-corruption campaign that analysts say Lam has weaponized for his own benefit.
Vietnam’s parliament has approved Public Security Minister Tho Lam as the new president after a massive anti-corruption drive forced his predecessor to resign.
Following normal procedure in a one-party state, the National Assembly passed a resolution approving the election of 66-year-old Lam, even though she was the only candidate in a secret ballot. It was passed unanimously. The vote followed last week’s nomination of Lam by the ruling Communist Party.
Thousands of people, including several government officials and business leaders, have been embroiled in a sweeping anti-corruption crackdown known as the “Burning Furnace,” with Lam Zheng, vice-chairman of the Anti-Corruption Steering Committee, at the center of the investigation. plays a role.
Lam replaced Bo Van Tuong, who resigned in March over what the party called “violations and deficiencies,” after just one year in office. The following month, the speaker of the National Assembly also resigned, citing “violations and deficiencies.”
Analysts say Lam, who is vice chair of the Anti-Corruption Steering Committee, is using corruption investigations as a weapon to oust political opponents.
In his first remarks after being confirmed as president, he told Congress that he would “resolutely and persistently continue our fight against corruption.”
“Stepping stone”
The role of head of state is largely ceremonial, but he is one of the country’s four highest political positions, the so-called “four pillars.” The other three are the party leader, the prime minister, and the speaker of parliament.
Carl Sayer, an emeritus professor at the Australian Defense Force Academy in Canberra and an expert on Vietnam, said the election should restore some temporary calm. Elderly leader Nguyen Phu Trong’s third five-year term ends in 2026, or sooner if he steps down before his term ends.
Regarding the party leadership position, Thayer said, “Lam may use his position as one of the ‘four pillars’ as a stepping stone to become general secretary.”
“His elevation to party leadership makes it clear that Tu Lam has ambitions beyond retirement,” said Florian Feyerabend, Vietnam representative for the German think tank Konrad Adenauer Stiftung. He pointed out that the post could serve as a “launching pad” for securing the position of party leader.
Feyerabend said continued infighting was “the way of the regime” and was likely to continue until Nguyen Phu Trong’s successor was chosen.
Mr. Hayashi’s rise to power has not been without controversy, with parliament deciding not to retain him as public security minister, who is responsible for monitoring dissent and monitoring activists within the dictatorship.
Rights activists say the government has stepped up its crackdown on civil society groups in recent years, with Vietnam-based rights group 88 Project saying 200 activists are currently in prison.
Zachary Abuza, a professor at the National Military University, said Lam is no longer the commander of the Ministry of Public Security and may be in a weak position to overthrow Pham Minh Trinh, the prime minister and only general secretary candidate. No,” he said. In Washington.
Lam also said that celebrity chef Nusret Gökçe, known as “Salt Bae,” cooked gold-encrusted steaks at a London restaurant during Vietnam’s COVID-19 lockdown in 2021. Lam Zheng uploaded a video of himself eating food, sparking outrage in Vietnam. The video went viral before the Turkish chef deleted it.
Later, a noodle seller who posted a video imitating “Salt Bae,” a noodle soup sprinkled with herbs, was sentenced to five years in prison for “anti-national propaganda.”
