Delegates of the Vietnam Communist Party began voting yesterday in a process that will end with the selection of its general secretary, officials and state media said, as the party shortened its congress in a sign of broad consensus for the reappointment of current leader To Lam.
The congress of the ruling Communist Party, held once every five years to select leaders and set political and economic priorities, was initially planned to last until Sunday.
Delegates voted on Wednesday, however, to wrap up the meeting as early as today, the government said on its news portal.
No official explanation was provided, but the shortened schedule likely indicates no divisions have emerged within the party over leadership positions and a probable smooth reappointment of Lam, who is seeking to extend his tenure as general secretary, Vietnam’s most powerful post.
Some congresses in the past required longer debates to decide leadership positions, warranting the initial week-long schedule for this year’s congress.
The 1,600 delegates that began meeting on Monday are expected to elect 200 members of the party’s central committee, multiple officials and media said.
The committee will then elect the party chief and up to 17 to 19 members of the Politburo from a pre-arranged shortlist. — Reuters
