Vietnamese State President Luong Cuong is attending the APEC 2024 Summit in Lima, Peru, and making an official visit to the Republic of Peru on November 12-16. This is his first foreign trip as head of state.
Meanwhile, there are assessments that General Secretary To Lam seems to have sensed the “undercurrents” in politics, which are the reactions from opposing factions within the Party, believed to be led by Cuong.
Lam and Cuong are both key figures in the Vietnamese state leadership. However, there is no official information acknowledging the unusual personal relationship between these two top leaders.
While some analysts believe that the possibility of State President Cuong rising to the position of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam at its 14th National Congress taking place in early 2026 cannot be underestimated.
On the contrary, some analysts believe that Lam is trying to “deploy troops and set up battle formations” to seize all power in the party. His relinquishment of the position of State President is not a loss of power, but a wise calculation to create consensus within the party, as well as create momentum for becoming the most powerful General Secretary after the 14th National Congress.
The National Congresses of the Communist Party of Vietnam, which take place every five years, require unified cooperation between party and State agencies, as well as top leaders. Although the State President is not directly involved in the Party’s personnel work, Cuong, through his political connections, also has significant influence on the election of leadership positions in the party. Especially in the selection of personnel for the Central Committee, the Politburo, as well as the Secretariat at the congress.
The assessments of the lack of consensus between Lam and Cuong are real, having occurred since the beginning of 2024 until now. However, in order to create greater influence in the party before the 14th National Congress, Lam and Cuong must temporarily freeze this conflict.
As leaders of the Party and State, both Lam and Cuong will have a great influence on political stability and the continued development of Vietnam’s policies at the upcoming 14th National Congress.
The assessments of the strengths and weaknesses and who will be the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam at the 14th National Congress are still just “assumptions” because it will depend on many different factors, including: Leadership and management ability, political and ethical qualities, democratic and transparent processes…
But most importantly, it is the strength of the factions. Considering this factor, it is easy to see that the position and power of General Secretary Lam seems to overwhelm the “political” generals of Cuong. But on the overall level, it is still unknown who dominates whom.
The official of the Standing member of the Secretariat and Chairman of the Central Committee’s Commission for Inspection, Tran Cam Tu, is considered to be the one who has the ability to create “trouble” for General Secretary Lam. Because Tu is beyond the control of Lam, but is the head of the agency with the power to investigate high-ranking leaders. According to some opinions, this is the reason why Lam must maintain at all costs the existing relationship with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, as well as Defense Minister Phan Van Giang.
Once this alliance is “broken” and at the same time Tran Cam Tu officially joins hands with the military faction, it will immediately cause trouble. That is extremely beneficial for State President Cuong.
Tra My – Thoibao.de
