(Reuters) — The 12th National Congress of the Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party concluded in Hanoi on Thursday (January 28) after re-electing Nguyen Phu Trong as the party’s General Secretary.
The re-election was an expected outcome that bolsters consensus rule but creates some uncertainty about the momentum of economic reform.
Trong, 71, is seen by experts as a conservative apparatchik and a party loyalist unlikely to deviate from the party’s economic and foreign policy agenda, at a time when China and the United States are vying aggressively for influence.
The Congress also elected new members to the Politburo- the most powerful political body of the country.
Among them are Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, who is expected to replace Nguyen Tan Dung as Prime Minister and Minister of Public Security Tran Dai Quang, who is likely to be named the next president.
The five-yearly congress, normally considered a dull affair, had stirred rare public excitement about politics due to the prospect of a leadership challenge from pro-business premier Nguyen Tan Dung, whom the politburo overlooked in its nominations for key posts. Despite speculation of a tense showdown, Dung chose not to contest.
Trong was the politburo’s sole candidate for party chief, clipping the wings of Dung, 66, who had garnered broad party support and cultivated an image as a progressive with his decisive running of a fast-growing economy.
“As you may already know, almost a hundred percent, that’s a surprise. It is a surprise because I am old, oldest among the leaders. My health is limited, as are my knowledge and abilities. I requested my retirement, but the Party gave me a mission so I have to take the responsibility as a member of the Party,” Trong said after the Congress closing ceremony.
Analysts regard Trong as a party stalwart keen to uphold a collective rule that Dung’s ambition and popularity among businessmen could have tested.
“Our superiority is that we lead as a whole under the supervision of one person. We heighten the role of one leader but in a democratic way. If the top person is a tyrant then it is not democracy. I cannot name those countries here but they use the name of democracy when in truth the decisions come from just one person so I ask who is more democratic?” he said.
“We have democracy, but we also have to keep rules and regulations intact. A country without its regulation will be chaotic. We wont be able to build and develop if there is chaos and instability. That’s why democracy and regulation need to go hand in hand. Democracy is within regulations and regulations are based on democracy. We can not put one on top of the other. Doing so will lead to failure,” he added.
The future president and prime minister, along with the chairman of the National Assembly will be elected in April at the next National Assembly meeting.