According to the official announcement on the fourth working day of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Central Committee began its internal session to elect the core leadership team.

Electing the Politburo

The meeting opened with the Presidium reporting on the proposed number of Politburo members and presenting a draft plan for consideration. Central Committee members then discussed and voted on the number of seats in the Politburo.

Following that, the Presidium submitted a list of candidates nominated by the outgoing Central Committee. Members were given the opportunity to nominate or self-nominate, with group discussions taking place before finalizing the official list. The meeting then voted on the list and proceeded with the election.

Politburo and Secretariat members must fully meet the criteria required of Central Committee members. Beyond that, they are expected to be exemplary figures - models of political bravery, ethical conduct, intellect, fighting spirit, leadership capacity, and discipline. They must be immune to external influence or vested interests.

Candidates must demonstrate decisive and effective leadership, a deep understanding of domestic and global affairs, and sharp political, economic, and social insight. They should also be committed to nurturing the next generation of leaders and crafting long-term national strategies.

To qualify, they must have served a full term as official Central Committee members and held leadership roles such as provincial Party secretaries, chairpersons of People’s Committees or People’s Councils, or heads of central-level ministries, agencies, or political organizations.

For those in the military, they must have served as commanders at the military zone level or higher. Special cases are subject to Central Committee approval.

Electing the General Secretary

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General Secretary To Lam casts his vote to elect official and alternate members of the 14th Central Committee. Photo: Nhan Dan Newspaper

The process of electing the new General Secretary began with the Presidium presenting proposed candidates pre-screened by the previous Central Committee, supplemented by recommendations from the new Politburo and the Congress itself.

Following group discussions and nominations, the Central Committee finalized and voted on the candidates.

The General Secretary must meet all standards required of Politburo and Secretariat members. In addition, this person must be highly respected, serve as a unifying force for the Party and nation, and represent the spirit of the times.

They must possess deep and broad knowledge across political theory, economics, culture, social policy, national defense, security, foreign affairs, governance, and Party building.

The role demands sharp political reasoning, a reform-oriented mindset, and the ability to handle crises involving the Party or national interests with calm and clarity.

The General Secretary is responsible for guiding the Central Committee, Politburo, and Secretariat. They must be capable of building a high-caliber leadership team, including key successors and strategic-level officials.

Candidates must have served a full term on the Politburo and successfully held positions such as provincial or municipal Party secretary, or head of a central-level Party agency.

Special exemptions require approval from the Central Committee.

Electing the Secretariat and Central Inspection Commission

After the General Secretary is elected, they present a proposed number of Secretariat members. The election follows a similar process: discussion, nomination, and voting.

In addition to the members elected by the Central Committee, some Secretariat members may be appointed by the Politburo.

For the Central Inspection Commission, the Presidium reports on requirements for the Chairperson and presents nominees selected by the previous Central Committee and endorsed by the new Politburo.

Members may self-nominate or nominate others. The final list is approved by vote, and the Commission is elected.

Tran Thuong