Vietnam parliament to relieve To Lam as police chief, conduct presidential vote

Vietnam’s National Assembly, its highest legislative body, will relieve General To Lam as Minister of Public Security and vote on him as a presidential candidate on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The parliament made a change to its working agenda Tuesday, acting on a suggestion from the Prime Minister and the National Assembly Standing Committee, said Bui Van Cuong, General Secretary of the National Assembly and head of the National Assembly Office. The change was endorsed by an absolute majority of lawmakers, he added.

Last week, To Lam, a Politburo member, was nominated by the Party Central Committee for the State President’s position.

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 has also been a National Assembly deputy for its 14th-15th terms. He was Deputy Minister of Public Security from 2010-2016; and Minister of Public Security from April 2016 onwards.

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. Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan is now the Acting President.