General To Lam relieved as police chief after becoming Vietnam State President

General To Lam, Vietnam's newly-elected State President, has been relieved from his role as Minister of Public Security.

With "yes" votes from all 465 attending delegates, the National Assembly, the country's highest legislative body, on Wednesday passed a resolution on the move.

Previously on the same day, General To Lam was elected by the National Assembly as the country's State President for the 2021-2026 tenure, with "yes" votes from 472 delegates out of the total 473 attending.

The election followed the Party Central Committee's nomination last Saturday.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has assigned Deputy Minister of Public Security Tran Quoc To to manage the activities of the ministry until related personnel issues are settled.

To Lam, born in 1957, is a Party Central Committee member for its 11th-13th tenures and a Politburo member for its 12th-13th tenures. He is also a National Assembly member for its 14th-15th terms. He was Deputy Minister of Public Security from 2010-2016, and was Minister of Public Security from April 2016.

The Ministry of Public Security has six deputy ministers: Senior Lieutenant Generals Tran Quoc To, Luong Tam Quang, and Nguyen Duy Ngoc, and Lieutenant Generals Le Quoc Hung, Nguyen Van Long, and Le Van Tuyen.

Vietnam's last two presidents, both for the 2021-2026 tenure – Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Vo Van Thuong – left their positions early. Phuc, elected in April 2021, left in January 2023, while Thuong held office from March 2023-March 2024.

Previously, on Monday, Tran Thanh Man, a Politburo member and standing Vice Chairman of the National Assembly, was elected the legislative body's Chairman.