Public security minister To Lam recommended to be Vietnam's new president

By Pham Du May 18, 2024 | 02:27 am PT

The Central Party Committee has recommended public security minister To Lam to become Vietnam's president and standing vice chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man its chairman.

The National Assembly, Vietnam's legislature, will vote on the recommendations at its next session, which is expected to start on Monday.

Minister of Public Security To Lam. Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Public Security

To Lam, 67, is the current Minister of Public Security. He was assigned by the prime minister in 2009 to become the head of the Security Department 1.

He became the deputy public security minister in August 2010, then the public security minister in April 2016.

He is also the current deputy head of the Central Steering Committee on fighting corruption.

Vice chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man. Photo courtesy of the National Assembly

Tran Thanh Man, 62, was the chairman of the Can Tho City People's Committee, secretary of the Can Tho Party Committee and head of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee.

Since April 2021, he has been the vice chairman of the National Assembly.

The 13th Central Party Committee made the personnel recommendations during its ninth session between Thursday and Saturday, following the exit of former President Vo Van Thuong and former chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue from their positions.

On March 20, the Central Party Committee granted Thuong’s request to step down from his positions as president, member of the Politburo, member of the Central Party Committee, and chairman of the National Defense and Security Council.

The National Assembly officially voted for him to step down the next day. Vo Thi Anh Xuan, previously vice president, is now acting president.

On May 2, the National Assembly granted Hue’s personal request to step down as chairman, after the Central Party Committee approved his resignation. Man has been assigned to operate the National Assembly in his stead.

In accordance with Central Party Committee regulations, a state president and a National Assembly chairperson must have been a member of the Politburo for at least one five-year term, with exceptions approved by the Committee.