Vietnam’s President To Lam. File | Photo credit: Getty Images
Vietnam Three new deputy prime ministers were announced on Monday (August 26, 2024), the latest high-level political change during a turbulent period for the ruling Communist Party.
Political upheaval was extremely rare in Vietnam for decades, where all changes were carefully made with an emphasis on stability. However, a major anti-corruption drive since 2021 has seen the removal of several high-level figures, including two presidents and three deputy prime ministers.
chairman To Lam He was named general secretary – Vietnam’s top leader – this month following the death of his predecessor, Nguyen Phu Trong.
Mr. Trong, the most powerful man in decades, masterminded a “blazing furnace” crackdown on corruption.
Vietnam’s four-pillar leadership structure includes the General Secretary, the President, the Prime Minister, and the head of the National Assembly.
The rubber-stamp parliament met in its eighth “extraordinary” session in Hanoi on Monday and announced a new chief justice and chief prosecutor, three new deputy prime ministers and two new ministers. Only one of the outgoing politicians was explicitly linked to the anti-corruption drive.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai was dismissed on Monday (August 26, 2024) for violating party rules and laws. The government now has five deputy prime ministers.
Thousands of people, including top officials and senior business leaders, have been caught up in the anti-corruption drive, and Lam has vowed to step up the campaign.