Tô Lâm

Tô Lâm (; born 10 July 1957) is a Vietnamese politician and former police officer who has served as general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) since August 2024 and the 13th president of Vietnam from May 2024 to October 2024. In his capacity as general secretary, he is the most powerful person in Vietnam's political system. A career officer in the People's Public Security Forces for over 40 years, Lâm previously served as Minister of Public Security from 2016 until his election to the presidency in 2024.

Born in Hưng Yên province, Tô Lâm became a member of the CPV on 22 August 1981. A graduate of the Central Police School and the Vietnam People's Security Academy, his entire career has been in the police forces. He holds the rank of four-star General in the Vietnam People's Public Security. He previously served as Head of the Central Highlands Steering Committee, Deputy Minister of Public Security, and Director-General of the MPS First General Department of Security. He has been a Member of the CPV Central Committee since 2011, and a Member of the CPV Politburo since 2016.

Lâm played a role in the late General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng's anti-corruption campaign, which implicated numerous senior officials to a degree unprecedented in Vietnamese political history. Following Trọng's death in July 2024, Lâm currently heads the Central Steering Committee on Anti-corruption and the Central Military Commission. Lâm is alleged to have led a campaign against dissidents, suppressed civil society organizations, tightened internet censorship, and implicated in various controversies. Since beginning his tenure as general secretary, Lâm has pursued wide-ranging administrative and bureaucratic restructuring.

On 18 May 2024, he was nominated by the CPV Central Committee to become Vietnam's 13th president, succeeding Võ Văn Thưởng, who resigned in March 2024 due to the anti-corruption campaign. The National Assembly relieved Tô Lâm of his ministerial post prior to the presidential election, and his protége Lương Tam Quang was appointed public security minister in June 2024. On 3 August 2024, following the death of Nguyễn Phú Trọng, Tô Lâm was elected CPV General Secretary and Secretary of the Central Military Commission by the 13th Central Committee, making him Vietnam's current supreme leader.

Early life and education

Tô Lâm was born on 10 July 1957 in Xuân Cầu village, Nghĩa Trụ commune, Văn Giang district, Hưng Yên province, Vietnam. He is the eldest son of Hero of the People's Armed Forces, Colonel Tô Quyền, former Director of Police for Hải Hưng province.

Tô Lâm was born and raised in a family of revolutionary activists, taught and learned about history and the country's situation from a young age. His father, was a recipient of the Hero of the People's Armed Forces medal and title. Tô Quyền participated in the revolution, went to the South to serve the Central Bureau in the years 1966 - 1975 until the country was unified, and was married. His name became his father's nickname, called ''Tư Tô Lâm'', ''Uncle Tư Tô Lâm''.

Following his father's image, Tô Lâm studied security. In October 1974, he was a student of the sixth cohort of the Central Public Security School, later renamed People's Security University, now People's Security Academy. After that, he studied and researched the field of law, receiving a PhD in Jurisprudence. On 22 October 2015, he was awarded the academic title Professor of Security Sciences.

Lâm was admitted to the Communist Party of Vietnam on 22 August 1981, becoming an official party member on August 22, 1982. During his Party and State activities, he studied course at the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, receiving an Advanced degree in political theory.

Early career

Tô Lâm's career in public security began with his education at the Central Police School in 1974, followed by his studies at the Vietnam People's Security Academy (VPSA) from October 1974 to October 1979. After graduating with a degree in security, he joined the Vietnam People's Public Security. From October 1979 to December 1988, he served in the Political Protection Department I within the Ministry of Public Security. He was promoted to Deputy Chief of the Political Protection Department I in December 1988, a role he held until 1993.

From 1993 to 2006, Tô Lâm's career advanced as he became the Deputy Director and later the Director of various departments within the Ministry of Public Security, including the Political Protection Department I and III. In 2006, he was appointed Deputy Director of the General Security Department, and by 2007, he had risen to the rank of Major-General. His leadership continued as he became the Director of the General Security Department I in 2009, and in July 2010, he was promoted to Lieutenant-General.

Tô Lâm's influence grew as he was appointed Deputy Minister of Public Security in August 2010 and became a member of the Party Central Committee during the 11th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam in January 2011. His role in international relations was highlighted in 2011 when he received US Ambassador Ted Osius in Hanoi to discuss strengthening the partnership between the two nations. According to Voice of America, the US Ambassador commented on him:

''"Lâm is also a tough character, but intelligent and interested in strengthening cooperation with the United States in a number of fields."''

In June 2011, he was appointed Secretary of the Central Police Party Committee, and by September 2014, he was promoted to Colonel General by President Truong Tan Sang. His career continued to ascend as he served as Deputy Minister of Public Security and was promoted to Senior Lieutenant-General/Colonel General in early 2016. In April 2016, he was appointed Vice Chairman of the Central Steering Committee on Anti-corruption by President Tran Dai Quang, and in July of the same year, he was named Head of the Central Highlands Steering Committee. From 2016 to 2024, he held several key positions, including Minister of Public Security and Vice Chairman of the Central Steering Committee on Anti-corruption. His contributions were further recognized in January 2019 when he was promoted to the rank of General by President Nguyen Phu Trong.

Rise to power

Minister of Public Security

On 9 April 2016, at the 11th session, the 13th National Assembly approved, President Trần Đại Quang appointed him to the position of Minister of Public Security. On 13 April 2016, the Politburo decided to assign Tô Lâm to hold the position of Secretary of the Central Public Security Party Committee. On 28 July 2016, at the first session of the 14th National Assembly, President Trần Đại Quang appointed him to the position of Minister of Public Security of the 14th Government of Vietnam, term 2016 - 2021. In this new term, he becomes the comprehensive and highest leader of the Vietnam People's Police, working under the Government led by Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, is responsible for performing the State management function of security, order and social safety; counterintelligence; crime prevention investigation; fire prevention and rescue; Execution of criminal judgments, execution of sentences other than imprisonment, custody or temporary detention; legal protection and support; State management of public services in sectors and fields under the Ministry's state management scope.

On 27 April 2016, Tô Lâm was appointed by the Politburo to concurrently hold the position of Deputy Head of the Central Steering Committee on Anti-corruption of the Communist Party of Vietnam participate in assisting and supporting the Head of the Committee, General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng in anti-corruption work. On 30 July 2016, he was assigned by the Politburo to hold the position of Head of the Central Highlands Steering Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam. On 11 October 2017, at the 6th Central Conference of the 12th term, the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam agreed to end the activity. actions of the Northwest, Central Highlands, and Southwest Steering Committees; he was relieved from this position.

On 29 January 2019, Tô Lâm was promoted by General Secretary and President Nguyễn Phú Trọng from Senior General to Police General together with Army General Lương Cường, Director of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army. On 30 January 2021, at the Central election, he was elected as an official member of the 13th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam. One day later, at the first session of the 13th Party Central Committee, he was elected a member of the 13th Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

On 31 January 2021, Tô Lâm was re-elected to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, re-elected by the Central Committee to the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam. On 28 July 2021, at the first session of the 15th National Assembly, it was approved and appointed by the President to hold the position of Minister of Public Security of the Government. Government of Vietnam term XV, term 2021 - 2026.

On 25 August 2021, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính signed Decision No. 1438/QD-TTg, appointing Lâm is a member of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control, Head of the Social Order and Security Subcommittee.

Major cases

In 2016, Trịnh Xuân Thanh; former member of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hậu Giang province and Delegates of the 14th National Assembly; was investigated and concluded that he had many shortcomings and serious violations during his time working at Petrovietnam Construction Joint Stock Corporation; being investigated by the Police Agency, the Ministry of Public Security issued a decision to prosecute the defendant for intentionally violating State regulations on economic management, causing serious consequences; At the same time, issued a temporary arrest warrant and a search warrant for Trịnh Xuân Thanh. After determining that Trịnh Xuân Thanh had fled, Ministry of Public Security issued a national and international arrest decision for him. Minister Tô Lâm directed the arrest of Trịnh Xuân Thanh and resolved this special criminal case. German investigators and Slovak police accused Tô Lâm of directing the arrest of figures from Germany through international cooperation with Slovakia and Russia. According to German and Slovak authorities, the kidnapping of Thanh occurred during a trip of Lâm in July 2017 and this affected Vietnam's diplomatic relations with Germany and Slovakia.

High-level leadership case: since 2016, he has been assigned the position of Minister of Public Security and Deputy Head of the Central Anti-Corruption Commission, assistant to General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng, General Tô Lâm has Direct the police in investigating, handling, and prosecuting corruption and serious violations, including many large, national cases. We can mention the case of Đinh La Thăng: prosecution, trial, and sentence of 30 years in prison for former Politburo member, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, Đinh La Thăng due to economic management violations while holding the position of Chairman of Vietnam Oil and Gas Group; The case of the former Minister of Information and Communications, Nguyễn Bắc Son and Trương Minh Tuấn on charges of violating management regulations, using public investment capital causing serious consequences and accepting bribes, sentenced to life imprisonment and 14 years in prison respectively; The case of former Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee, Nguyễn Đức Chung being arrested and investigated for appropriating secret State documents. In 2022, he and the Ministry of Public Security conducted an investigation into two major scandals related to the case of repatriation flights to "rescue" citizens returning to the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the scandal at the Việt Á company caused many officials to be investigated and imprisoned.

The attack on two Commune People's Committee headquarters in Đắk Lắk 2023: At a discussion in the National Assembly on June 20, Lâm commented: The incident in Dak Lak shows that security cannot be overlooked at the base.

Foreign affairs

During his 2016 - 2024 term, Police General Tô Lâm represented the Vietnam People's Public Security Force, welcoming international representatives visiting Vietnam, conducting tours to partner countries, strengthening international relations, promoting integration in the new period and ensuring sovereignty and the country's security.

In 2016, Lâm welcomed the Chinese delegation of State councillor, Minister of Ministry of Public Security Guo Shengkun to visit in Hanoi. Cabinet, organize conferences, strengthen cooperation in fighting crime of both countries. In 2017, he and his delegation visited Slovakia, met with Prime Minister Robert Fico; together with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs of Slovakia Robert Kaliňák signed ''Cooperation Agreement between the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Slovakia on the fight against crime''.

In 2018, Lâm visited and worked in the United Kingdom, together with the Minister of Home Secretary Sajid Javid signed and handed over the 'Memorandum of Understanding between the Government and the United Kingdom'. Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on cooperation in preventing and combating human trafficking''.

In 2019, he and his delegation visited South Korea, met with Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, Prosecutor General Moon Moo-il, strengthening cooperation between the two countries. In 2020, he visited Southeast Asian countries such as Laos, met with Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and Lao Minister of Security Vilay Lakhamphong signed the Plan to implement the Cooperation Agreement between the two ministries; to Brunei, exchange and increase information sharing on traditional and non-traditional crime and security situations, including methods, tricks and the connection of types of crimes that affect the two countries. countries, especially terrorist criminals, criminals using high technology, drug crimes, economic crimes, wanted criminals, especially need to strengthen cooperation in the field of cyber security.

At the end of 2020, Lâm had a meeting and worked with the US high-level delegation led by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo within the framework of the official visit Vietnamese culture on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the United States.

From 9 April to April 10, 2023, Lâm had a trip to India. During the meeting with Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Kumar Doval, the two sides committed to further deepening the Vietnam-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, especially in issues such as: strategies such as security and defense, contributing to maintaining peace, prosperity and stability of the two countries, the region and the world. From 19 May to 22 May 2023, he paid a visit to Iran at the invitation of Iranian Minister of Interior Ahmad Vahidi. They agreed to promote cooperation between the two Ministries in the field of security and order, coordinate in handling transnational crimes and crimes related to citizens of the two countries, and absolutely protect the safety of flights. visits by senior leaders, ensuring security and safety for the headquarters of representative agencies and citizens of this country working, studying, working, sightseeing, traveling, and investment cooperation in the country's territory that; Strengthen cooperation on cybersecurity, promote cooperation in the field of training, improve professional capacity and foreign languages, and support each other on international forums of which the two sides are members. Tô Lâm held talks with Iranian Justice Minister Amin Houssein Rahimi. After the talks, authorized by President Võ Văn Thưởng, Lâm signed an Extradition Agreement and an Agreement on the Transfer of Prisoners between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Islamic Republic with Iranian Justice Minister A.H. Rahimi.

He also worked with Commander-in-Chief of the National Police Ahmad-Reza Radan to identify specific cooperation activities in the field of crime prevention, especially organized crime and transnational crime. criminals, drug criminals and high-tech crimes. He also met with First Vice President of Iran Mohammad Mokhber.

Gold steak controversy

In early November 2021, a video was posted on the TikTok account of famous chef Nusret Gökçe, also known as "Salt Bae." The clip, which was later removed, showed Tô Lâm dining at Salt Bae's expensive restaurant in London, reportedly during his trip to the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference. In the video, chef Gökçe is seen feeding Tô Lâm a piece of gold-coated beef.

It is unclear who paid for the meal, but according to international newspapers, the event sparked outrage among many Vietnamese netizens. They considered it a lavish meal, with the price of the gold-coated beef dish exceeding the minister's monthly salary, especially as Vietnam was suffering heavily from the COVID-19 pandemic, with millions of people facing difficulties. The news of a communist official dining at a luxurious restaurant was reported by various media outlets in several countries, with some sources highlighting the contrast between this and his previous act of laying flowers at Karl Marx's grave.

Despite attracting significant international media attention, Vietnamese press remained silent on the matter. On social media, the hashtag "#saltbae" was blocked worldwide for a few days and was only accessible again on November 9. Facebook did not provide a reason for the block and did not clarify whether the Vietnamese government requested the removal of the video content. Additionally, on November 16, 2021, Bùi Tuấn Lâm, 39, a noodle vendor in Đà Nẵng was reportedly targeted by police after posting a video on his Facebook page in which he imitated Gökce's gesture. On September 7, 2022, Bùi Tuấn Lâm was arrested by multiple plainclothes police officers at his noodle stand. After a trial only lasting a day, Lam was sentenced to five-and-a half years in prison and four years of probation upon being released.

Leadership

Presidency (May–October 2024)

On 21 March 2024, Võ Văn Thưởng submitted his resignation from the presidency after his former subordinates were imprisoned for corruption in the Phúc Sơn Group misconduct case. Following this, vice president Võ Thị Ánh Xuân temporarily served as acting president, a role she had previously held for almost two months in early 2023.

At the 9th Central Committee Conference on 18 May 2024, Tô Lâm was nominated to become Vietnam's next President and was confirmed by the National Assembly at the opening of its 7th Session. He retained his current post of Minister of Public Security alongside the presidency until the Central Committee nominates a successor.

On 22 May 2024, the National Assembly elected Lâm as president. He served as president until his replacement by Lương Cường on 21 October.

General Secretaryship (2024–present)

On 18 July 2024, Lâm was appointed caretaker General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the most powerful position in Vietnam, after Nguyễn Phú Trọng fell ill. Following the latter's death the next day, Tô Lâm was officially elected as the party's general secretary on 3 August.

Foreign affairs

On 19 June 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Vietnam and met with Tô Lâm. Putin thanked Vietnam for its "balanced position" on Russian invasion of Ukraine.

On 18 August 2024, Tô Lâm arrived in China for a three-day visit, his first overseas visit since becoming president and general secretary. During his three-day visit, he first arrived in Guangzhou before heading to Beijing. Following his arrival in Beijing on the next day, he met with CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping, and the two communist leaders held talks and signed cooperation documents. Afterwards Xi congratulated Lâm on his election as general secretary and president.

Lâm began a two-day state visit to Ireland on 2 October 2024 by meeting President Michael D. Higgins and his wife, Sabina, at , the presidential residence. The two leaders held wide-ranging talks during this first state visit to Ireland by a Vietnamese president, reciprocating Higgins' inaugural visit by an Irish president to Vietnam in 2016. Lâm returned to the ''Áras'' for a state dinner in the evening along with members of the Irish Vietnamese community.

Honours

National orders

* Military Exploit Order (1st class), thrice
* Military Exploit Order (3rd class)
* Feat Order (1st class), twice
* Feat Order (2nd class)
* Feat Order (3rd class)
* Victory Banner Medal
* Fatherland Protection Medal
* Glorious Fighter Medal (1st class)
* Glorious Fighter Medal (2nd class)
* Glorious Fighter Medal (3rd class)
* Medal for National Security

Foreign orders

*:
** Commander of the Royal Order of Sahametrei
*:
** Order of José Martí (2024)
** Order of June 6 (1st class)
*:
** Freedom Medal (1st and 2nd classes)
** Labor Medal (1st and 2nd classes)
** Friendship Medal
** Hero Medal
*:
** Order of Friendship (2021)

Published works

* To Lam, ''Ho Chi Minh's Thought on the People's Public Security'', National Political Publishing House, 2015.
* To Lam, ''Ho Chi Minh's ideology on cadres and cadre work of the People's Public Security'', National Political Publishing House, 2017.
* To Lam, ''The masses - the decisive factor in winning the struggle to protect security and order'', People's Public Security Publishing House, 2017.
* To Lam, ''Ho Chi Minh's Thought on the role of the people in the cause of protecting security and order'', People's Public Security Publishing House, 2017.
* To Lam, ''Vietnam People's Police with Ho Chi Minh's works as a revolutionary policeman'', Truth National Political Publishing House, 2018.

References

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{{DEFAULTSORT:To, Lam
1957 births
Living people
Presidents of Vietnam
Government ministers of Vietnam
General secretaries of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam
Members of the 12th Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam
Members of the 13th Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam
Members of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam
Members of the 12th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam
Members of the 13th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam
People from Hưng Yên province