BANGKOK, OCT 21 – The new head of Vietnam’s Communist Party told the country’s ruling Parliament today to continue efforts to fight corruption, which analysts say has been used to root out insiders.
To Lam took over as Secretary General of the Communist Party last August after the death of his predecessor and made his first speech today as supreme leader to the National Assembly delegates.
A major anti-corruption crackdown initiated by the late Nguyen Phu Trong has removed dozens of business leaders and senior government figures, including two presidents and three deputy prime ministers since 2021.
Lam enthusiastically continued the effort, even as analysts said he had used anti-corruption investigative measures to defeat his political rivals.
At the start of the autumn session of the country’s national assembly today, Lam called on MPs to tighten discipline to counter negative influences.
Over the past year, more than 10,000 people have been tried in about 4,800 trials as part of the anti-corruption drive, Vietnam’s chief justice, Le Minh Tri, said last week, according to state media.
Lam currently holds the role of secretary general which is Vietnam’s most important position in its four core leadership structure including the president.
Parliament is expected to elect a new president today who will be the fourth person in the post in less than two years. – AFP
