Vietnamese President To Lam was officially appointed as the country’s top leader on Saturday, vowing to accelerate a comprehensive anti-corruption campaign that has ensnared thousands in recent years.
The Communist Party selected Lam as general secretary in the morning, the party announced at a press conference, establishing him as the most influential figure in Vietnam’s leadership hierarchy.
It remains unclear if Lam will also retain his role as president, which is largely ceremonial.
In his first address as general secretary, Lam promised to expedite the ongoing anti-corruption campaign that has implicated numerous individuals, including high-ranking officials and prominent business figures.
“I will continue to accelerate anti-corruption efforts…regardless of the individual’s status,” Lam stated during a press briefing. “We have earned the trust of the people and our international partners in our fight against corruption.”
Lam’s appointment comes after the passing of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Vietnam’s most influential leader in many years, two weeks ago.
Trong passed away in Hanoi due to age-related complications and severe illness, leading to Lam taking over informally as the new leader.
Lam’s ascent to the top post follows a lengthy career within the covert public security ministry, responsible for overseeing dissent and monitoring activists in Vietnam, a single-party state.
Aged 67, Lam previously headed the ministry from 2016 until earlier this year when he was elected as president, succeeding his predecessor who resigned amidst the anti-corruption crackdown.
The “blazing furnace” campaign against corruption has garnered public support but also raised concerns among analysts about the nation’s stability.
The Communist Party has witnessed significant changes in recent months, with ministers, business leaders, and two presidents falling from grace in the extensive anti-graft initiative.
Amid fears of being implicated, routine operations within businesses and government institutions have been disrupted.
bur/cwl
