HANOI, Vietnam, Jan 19, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Vietnam's ruling Communist Party convened Monday to begin their twice-a-decade congress, where leader To Lam is looking to tighten his grip on power less than two years after assuming the top role. The Southeast Asian nation of 100 million people is both a repressive one-party state and a regional economic bright spot, where the Communist Party has sought to deliver rapid growth to bolster its legitimacy. One source briefed on party deliberations told AFP that Lam's bid for expanded powers had been provisionally approved. The top posts in Vietnam's collective leadership system must be approved by the incoming politburo, and experts say nothing is certain yet. Lam would be the first person to be named to the top two jobs simultaneously by a party congress, rather than stepping in following a death.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha January 19, 2026 07:13 UTC