On the political arena in Vietnam, Tô Lâm, a police veteran who has been in public office for more than 40 years, is reshaping the political landscape in Vietnam through his active role in the anti-corruption campaign.As the general secretary and former president of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the rise of Tô Lâm reflects the changes in domestic political power and the increasingly deeper policy of zero tolerance for corruption.
Tô Lâm was born in 1957 and grew up in a revolutionary family since childhood. He was deeply influenced by his father, the hero of the People's Armed Forces.His early education was conducted at the Central Public Security School and the Vietnam People's Security College and obtained a doctorate in law.Lâm joined the Communist Party of Vietnam in 1981 and then started his career within the Vietnamese People's Public Security Forces.
For more than 40 years, Lâm's professional context has covered different ranks from grassroots police to the supreme leadership of the army, and his actions and stubbornness are eye-catching.
Tô Lâm's career began in 1974 and rose rapidly to become the deputy minister of the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam. Later, he was appointed as the Minister of Public Security in 2016.In this role, Lâm demonstrates efficient management capabilities and focus on security matters and begins to vigorously promote anti-corruption strategies.
Tô Lâm has played a key role in the anti-corruption campaign in Vietnam since 2016.His actions are not limited to combating small-scale corruption, but focus on top officials and dig deeper into larger-scale corruption cases.Many former officials have been subject to legal sanctions for corruption, which is unprecedented in Vietnam's political history.
Under his director's anti-corruption team, the investigation and handling of many well-known corruption cases have made him one of the politicians trusted by the people.
In 2024, former President Võ Văn Thưởng resigned over a corruption scandal and Tô Lâm was nominated for the new president.After the congressional elections, he was quickly confirmed as president.Although his presidency was short, he immediately became the general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam in August of the same year. With the death of former general secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng, he further consolidated his power base.
In just a few months, Tô Lâm's identity transformation brought significant challenges to the old political order.
Tô Lâm was not only committed to domestic policies, but also showed Vietnam's position to the international community.His first visit included leaders of many countries, covering areas such as cooperative security and combating crime.Especially in the United States and Russia, Tô Lâm's diplomatic contacts show Vietnam's balanced strategy in the current international situation.
However, several Tô Lâm's policies have also sparked controversy, especially the tough stance on freedom of speech and Internet regulation.Amid protests by some civil groups and social activists, he was accused of suppressing dissidents and strengthening the scrutiny of the Internet, resulting in different voices and opinions in society.
His strategy of governing the country has won him respect from some people, but has also been criticized by many, and the risk of possible dictatorship against him continues to heat up in society.
As Tô Lâm's power grows, his influence in the future of Vietnamese politics will undoubtedly last.How will Vietnam take its own path under his leadership in the face of current challenges and a changing global environment?