civil servants, and public employees by more than 150,000 and oversaw mergers of administrative agencies467. While these changes were presented as improvements, some observers suggest they may also serve a political purpose by helping Lâm consolidate power468. While these reforms have taken place under Lâm, they continue to protect the interests of the ruling CPV and the state rather than the public. The Vietnamese, an independent online media outlet reporting on Vietnam, has noted that since Lâm assumed leadership, the gap between citizens and the legislative process appears to have widened, with public voices largely absent from major decisions that directly affect daily life469. The Ministry of Public Security (MPS), where Lâm served as minister before becoming president, has expanded its influence under this national leadership. It has become a “super-ministry,” broadening its legal authority and taking over functions ranging from driver testing to cybersecurity, while gaining economic control over firms such as MobiFone. Although Tô Lâm no longer heads the ministry, his position as General Secretary allows him to steer it, closely linking Vietnam’s top political office with a powerful security apparatus. In December 2025, it was reported that the CPV had decided to nominate Tô Lâm to remain in the top leadership position, effectively securing his continuation as party chief and allowing him to further advance his sweeping reform agenda, which is reshaping the country470. This report was confirmed on January 23, 2026, when Lâm was elected to remain in the top position for another five years471. According to media reports, Lâm may also reassume the presidency while simultaneously serving as General Secretary of the CPV472. He briefly held this dual role in 2024 before resigning from the presidency in October 2024 and retaining only the General Secretary position. “To Lam Streamlines the Bureaucracy: a Massive ‘Revolution’ and a Power Rearrangement.” BBC News Tiếng Việt, 7 Aug. 2025, www.bbc.com/vietnamese/articles/ckgexqrgz7go. 468. Ibid. 469. Viễn, Minh, and Đàm Vĩnh Hằng. “One Year of Tô Lâm: Political Choices That Will Echo for Generations.” The Vietnamese, 13 Aug. 2025, www.thevietnamese.org/2025/08/one-year-of-to-lam-politicalchoices-that-will-echo-for-generations. 470. Stevens, Francesca. “Vietnam’s Communist Party Said to Back Lam to Remain Chief.” Bloomberg, 23 Dec. 2025, www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-12-23/vietnam-s-communist-party-said-to-backlam-to-remain-as-chief. 471. “Vietnam Communist Party Elects To Lam Chief for 5 More Years.” Nikkei Asia, 23 Jan. 2026, asia.nikkei. com/politics/vietnam-communist-party-elects-to-lam-chief-for-5-more-years. 472. Ibid. 467. 94