Hanoi (Vietnam) (AFP) – Vietnam’s Communist Party on Tuesday endorsed General Secretary To Lam to remain in the top job for the next five years, according to two sources briefed on a meeting where senior officials agreed a slate of candidates to be announced at the party congress in January.
Lam, who became party chief after the death of his predecessor in August 2024, has enacted reforms described by officials as “a revolution”, slashing the bureaucracy and cracking down on corruption as he seeks to boost economic growth.
“No change. The party chief remains in his position to ensure stability,” a source briefed on the meeting told AFP.
A second source confirmed he will continue as general secretary and also be nominated to serve simultaneously as president, as Chinese President Xi Jinping has done.
“On behalf of those entrusted with the nomination to the (party) Central Committee and leadership positions for the next term… we would like to thank the Central Committee, the Politburo, and the Secretariat for their trust in assigning us this task,” Lam said in a speech Tuesday, appearing to thank delegates for nominating him.
“We will continue to work together in unity and with a high sense of responsibility and efficiency, meeting the expectations of the Party and the People.”
The leadership decisions must be finalized at the party congress which runs from January 19-25, when key policy plans will also be outlined for the next five years.
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