Vietnam’s political reshuffle brings respite as To Lam tightens grip on power

It is crucial, however, to assess the new faces who have been recently promoted to the Politburo and Secretariat, the most consequential political agencies in the one-party state. Given the timing of the appointments as well as their criteria, they are likely to remain at the top echelon of the nation’s leadership after the 14th Congress in 2026.

At the CPV’s 9th plenum on May 16, four new Politburo members were elected to replace the six leaders ousted since 2021. They were Le Minh Hung, former CPV Central Committee chief of staff; Bui Thi Minh Hoai, Central Mass Mobilisation Commission head; Do Van Chien, Vietnamese Fatherland Front chairman; and Nguyen Trong Nghia, Central Propaganda Commission head. Vice-minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang was chosen to head the Ministry of Public Security, a Politburo-level position, suggesting his imminent promotion to the key policymaking body.

The CPV Secretariat, which manages daily party affairs, also saw a restructuring at the top. General Luong Cuong, the head of the General Politics Department of the Vietnam People’s Army, succeeded Truong Thi Mai as the new permanent member of the Secretariat. General Trinh Van Quyet replaced Cuong, making him eligible to join the Secretariat. These reshuffles significantly boost the army’s presence in the CPV’s top institutions, with three Politburo members (Luong Cuong, Nguyen Trong Nghia and Minister of Defence Phan Van Giang) and two Secretariat members (Trinh Van Quyet and Nguyen Trong Nghia, who holds this position concurrently with his Politburo role). This will help balance the power against the public security apparatus, which is dominant in the elite institutions. In another notable promotion, Vice-Minister of Public