Vietnam’s current “Four Pillars” are being “armed” like never before. Of the four “Four Pillars,” three are generals, coming from the armed forces. General Secretary To Lam is a former Police General, State President Luong Cuong is a former Army General, and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is a former police Lieutenant General. Although. Chinh has the lowest rank, his political courage is considered second only to Lam.
Whether they are in the army or the police, these generals are taught how to use the power of guns and bullets to win. The police use guns and bullets to win over the people, while the army uses guns and bullets to win over the enemy.
In reality, the 2021-2026 term is the most volatile term in politics ever. There have been two unusual deaths, Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh and former Deputy Defense Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh. The Politburo lost 8 members, including one dead.
Never before has politics been so fierce.
After the war full of losses since the beginning of the term until now, the “Four Pillars” have had 3 generals. That shows that the political arena is being dominated by generals. There is even an internal source saying that Lam is gradually Hung Yenizing both the Secretariat and the “Four Pillars.” It is worth mentioning that the Hung Yen group is all military and police generals. When Hung Yen dominates the game, politics will be violent.
In early 2021, after the 13th National Congress, the Four Pillars included Nguyen Phu Trong, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Pham Minh Chinh and Vuong Dinh Hue. Now, the only person remaining is PM Chinh. This shows that only generals can stand firm after the political storm.
Now, Man is only one in the Four Pillars not coming from the armed forces. He was urgently promoted because the Politburo lacked people. This is only a temporary emergency solution. With Man’s political ability, many observers assess that it is difficult for him to stay in the Four Pillars in the next term.
The position of Chairman of the National Assembly is a position without real power, because the parliament itself is just a puppet organization. However, since the time Nong Duc Manh was Chairman of the National Assembly, more than 30 years ago, this position has been considered a reserve for the position of General Secretary. Manh and Trong both rose from this position. If former NA Chairman Hue had not been attacked by Lam, then at the 14th National Congress, he would have been appointed to the position of General Secretary.
But now, the political arena is no longer as orderly as before. The political elite is divided into factions fighting each other, the strong win and the weak lose, and there is no longer regional compromis. If Man is not “protected” by the General Secretary, it will be very difficult for him to stay in the position for a long time.
At the upcoming 14th National Congress slated in early 2026, Man needs to maintain his position as Chairman of the National Assembly. But this seems very difficult, because the Southern wing is currently too weak, he cannot form an alliance with anyone. Former PM Nguyen Tan Dung has just risen after the death of General Secretary Trong. However, Dung only focuses on his son Nguyen Thanh Nghi, because he does not have enough strength to support others.
In the Ministry of Public Security, Lam is preparing someone to replace incumbent Minister General Luong Tam Quang. A source told thoibao.de that Lam wants to put Quang in the “Four Pillars.” If that is true, Man’s position is very fragile. He can hardly compete with a Police General, and this General has another, bigger General behind him.
Man did not rise through the path of a “military general” but only by luck. He was chosen to replace Hue, at a time when officials were falling like flies, so there was not enough personnel to replace them in time.
At this point, sitting in the “Four Pillars” without “martial arts” is very difficult to defend. It seems that Man’s position is the most fragile among the Four Pillars.
Hoang Phuc – Thoibao.de
