Vietnam's To Lam consolidates power with presidential perch
Vietnam Communist Party boss To Lam was elected president by the National Assembly on Tuesday, capping his bid to centralise authority in a nation where senior cadres have traditionally governed collectively. It has "transitioned the country's leadership from a consensus-based collective model to a strongman leadership style," he told AFP. Tran Thanh Man, chairman of the National Assembly, said 100 percent of deputies who were present approved the resolution electing Lam president for the 2026-2031 term.
Vietnam Communist Party boss To Lam was elected president by the National Assembly on Tuesday, capping his bid to centralise authority in a nation where senior cadres have traditionally governed collectively. It has "transitioned the country's leadership from a consensus-based collective model to a strongman leadership style," he told AFP. Tran Thanh Man, chairman of the National Assembly, said 100 percent of deputies who were present approved the resolution electing Lam president for the 2026-2031 term.
