Vietnam Elevates Senior Police Officer to Politburo Amidst Political Reshuffling

Vietnam's Communist Party has promoted the nation's most senior police officer, Luong Tam Quang, to its Politburo. This reflects the increasing influence of the internal security agency. The move follows Quang’s appointment as Minister of Public Security and occurs during a period of significant political upheaval and anti-corruption efforts.

Vietnam's ruling Communist Party on Friday elevated its top police officer to the Politburo, underscoring the growing influence of the country's internal security apparatus.

The appointment of 58-year-old Luong Tam Quang to the elite governing body comes just two months after his installation as Minister of Public Security. This transition was necessitated when former Minister To Lam assumed the presidency in May. Notably, Lam also took on the role of party general secretary in August, following the passing of longtime leader Nguyen Phu Trong.

In Vietnam, leadership is divided among the 'four pillars': the party chief, president, prime minister, and parliament chairman, with former top police officials now occupying three of these positions. Quang's promotion, making him the 15th member of Vietnam's top decision-making entity, coincides with a sweeping anti-graft campaign, which has already ensnared numerous high-ranking officials. The reshuffle is indicative of the broader personnel changes expected for the 2021-2026 term, ahead of the next major Congress in 2026.

(With inputs from agencies.)