Communist Party of Vietnam

Stories

Vietnam elects new National Assembly as To Lam consolidates party and state power

Sole legal ruling party; controls all branches of government

Since 1976 Vietnam's Communist Party has split power among four pillars: party general secretary, state president, prime minister, and National Assembly chairman—but on March 15, 2026, nearly 73.5 million voters elected 500 members of the 16th National Assembly from 864 candidates (93 percent Communist Party) to shift that structure. In April the legislature will appoint To Lam, the former security chief, to lead both party and state, a choice made at January's Party Congress.

Updated May 30

Vietnam's power consolidation

Rule Changes

Convening 14th National Congress

Vietnam's 14th Party Congress concluded January 23, 2026, unanimously re-electing Tô Lâm as General Secretary with all 180 Central Committee votes. A merger of party chief and state presidency (which would make Lâm Vietnam's most powerful leader since Hồ Chí Minh) was not finalized.

Updated May 22