To Lam, leader of Vietnam's ruling party, elected as president

Vietnam’s parliament members unanimously elected General Secretary of the Communist Party, To Lam, as the state president on Tuesday for the next five-year term.

Lam’s election marks his second term after a short tenure in 2024, according to local media VnExpress.

He is mandated to serve as president for the 2026-2031 period while continuing as general secretary.

Lam took the oath of office in the National Assembly.

Previously, he also held both roles in 2024, becoming general secretary three months after serving as president. Before that, he served as minister of public security in 2016 and was promoted to general rank in 2019.

He took over the party after Nguyen Phu Trong’s death and was officially elected as party chairman in August 2024.

The 69-year-old man has served four consecutive terms in the Party Central Committee, three terms as a Politburo member, and three terms as a National Assembly member.

He hails from Hung Yen Province in the north.

During his 18 months as party chairman, Lam has overseen major policy decisions by the Central Committee, Politburo, and Secretariat aimed at accelerating Vietnam’s development.

These goals include two long-term targets: becoming an upper-middle-income country with a modern industry by 2030 and a developed, high-income country by 2045.

He has also implemented comprehensive administrative reforms, such as streamlining government agencies and reducing the number of provinces and cities.

He has promoted the expansion of Vietnam’s international partnerships under foreign policy.