VIETNAM elected Luong Cuong, a military general, as its new president today, the fourth official to fill the role in 18 months.

Mr Cuong, 67, was elected by the National Assembly to replace To Lam, who was formally appointed as the general secretary of the ruling Communist Party in August.

The role of the general secretary is the most powerful position in Vietnam while the presidency is largely ceremonial.

Mr Cuong, who has served in the Vietnamese army for over four decades, has been a politburo member since 2021.

His appointment took place after months of uncharacteristic tumult in Vietnam’s politics and the death of former party general secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

Mr Trong viewed corruption as the single gravest threat to the Communist Party’s reputation and launched a sweeping anti-graft campaign known as the “blazing furnace.”

It targeted both business and political elites, including former presidents Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Vo Van Thuong and the former head of parliament, Vuong Dinh Hue.

As Vietnam’s top security official at the time, Mr Lam had led the campaign until May. When he became the new general secretary, he promised to maintain the anti-corruption fight.

Vietnam’s leaders are next due to convene a Communist Party Congress in early 2026.