Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party begins a two-day meeting to finalise candidates for the country’s top leadership positions ahead of the January congress.
HANOI: Senior officials of Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party began a two-day meeting on Monday to select candidates for the country’s leadership positions for the next five years.
The gathering precedes the five-yearly party congress, scheduled for January 19-25, which will formally nominate leaders and set key policy and economic targets.
Party chief To Lam (pic) opened the meeting, stating the plenum is tasked with finalising the selection of state and party leaders.
“I propose that you all focus your intellect and responsibility to select personnel to be nominated for the 14th Party Congress in a straightforward, objective and impartial manner,” Lam told the roughly 200 party members.
The names of candidates shortlisted in previous party meetings have not been disclosed.
The party said the meeting will conclude on Tuesday, but authorities did not say whether the plenum’s decisions will be made public.
Lam, 68, is seeking a second term as party chief, the country’s most powerful job which he assumed in August last year.
The sweeping administrative and economic reforms he introduced during his roughly 18 months at the helm have earned him admirers but also stirred discontent.
Delegates will also select candidates for the other four “pillars” of the state: president, prime minister, chairman of the parliament, and the standing member of the party’s secretariat.
