After nearly 18 months, Veitnam finally elected Luong Cuong, a military general, as its president. The newly elected president will replace Lam, who remained president after being elected as the ruling party’s general secretary. In his speech, Cuong promised to conduct foreign policies to promote independence and peace. He further vowed to promote Veitnam as a friendly, trusted and responsible member of the international community.
Cuong has served in the Vietnamese military for over four decades and has been a member of the Politburo since 2021. His appointment followed months of unusual political upheaval in Vietnam and the passing of former party general secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, who had been a dominant figure in the country’s leadership since 2011. In Veitnam, the general secretary is the most powerful position, while the presidency remains the most ceremonial and involves meeting foreign dignitaries.
Also read, President Subianto Announced The Biggest Cabinet EverAs per various experts, appointing a new president is a move to stabilise the system after a long period of turbulence. According to the visiting fellow in the Vietnam Studies Program at Singapore’s ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute, Nguyen Khac Giang, “Luong Cuong’s appointment represents a deliberate attempt to restore balance between Vietnam’s military and security factions, particularly ahead of the 2026 Party Congress.” He added, “By ceding the presidency, To Lam shows his commitment to the collective leadership principle, while still retaining the decisive power in the system.”
