HANOI, Jan 22 (Reuters) – Vietnam’s Communist Party shortened the planned voting process to select its general secretary, indicating there was broad consensus to reappoint current leader To Lam, as soon as on Friday.
Nearly 1,600 delegates elected on Thursday 200 members of the party’s central committee, which will then choose the party chief and up to 17 to 19 members of the Politburo from a pre-arranged shortlist.
Incumbent Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and President Luong Cuong were not among the newly elected committee members, according to the official list, making it unlikely that they will retain their leadership roles.
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 Friday, 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 final vote to select the general secretary is expected on Friday when the new central committee holds its first meeting.
(Reporting by Francesco Guarascio, Phuong Nguyen and Khanh Vu; Editing by Tom Hogue and Susan Fenton)
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