On January 6, 2025, Vietnamese State President Luong Cuong signed a decision to appoint Can Dinh Tai and Nguyen Hoang Anh as his assistants. It is known that an assistant is the key keeper for the owner, usually a trusted person, no one would choose an outsider.
However, for some reason, this time Cuong appointed 2 people who are not his “internal soldiers” to be his assistants. Because Can Dinh Tai and Nguyen Hoang Anh were originally secretaries of former State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, they are considered “internal soldiers” of Phuc. These two people followed Phuc from the Prime Minister’s Office to the State President’s Office.
In the position of secretary-assistant, these people will follow the owner closely, and often know very well the owner’s activities, including many secrets that need to be hidden.
Therefore, officials are very reluctant to choose unfamiliar secretaries, especially those who used to be “servants” of others because these officials have not been assessed for loyalty. Even To Lam, when he transferred from the Ministry of Public Security to the Presidential Palace, as well as from the Presidential Palace to the Central Party Office, brought To An Xo with him. General Secretary Lam could not choose someone else’s subordinate to be his subordinate, because once his “weak point” was exposed, his political career would be ruined.
The fact that Cuong chose someone else’s assistant to be his assistant, it is certain that they will not be loyal to him. Because loyal soldiers must be those who follow their master from the time the master was unknown, until they climbed each step on the ladder of power. Pham Thai Ha followed former Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue through all his positions, for about 20 years. Therefore, when Lam arrested Ha, Hue’s secrets were exposed.
The position of secretary is like a double-edged sword. If he is a “personal soldier,” the secret is protected, but if he is an outsider, or even a “spy,” then the owner is being monitored. In this case, it is very likely that Cuong is being monitored.
Recently, Cuong has been very tough. On his trip to Chile, he brought along Defense Minister Phan Van Giang, Intelligent chief Tran Cong Chinh, and Deputy Minister of Public Security Tran Quoc To. After that, he and Ho Duc Phoc went to the Ministry of Public Security to pressure Luong Tam Quang to “perform surgery himself” and cut down the personnel of this ministry. This shows that Cuong wants to form a faction, and certainly, Lam cannot ignore it.
Cuong has just become State President, this is the time when “the young bird has not yet grown wings” and is not stable enough. Moreover, the position of State President is considered formal and not strong enough to withstand the storms of politics. If he does not seek an alliance, Cuong is no different from a “baby bird” in the claws of the “eagle” Lam.
However, let’s assume that Cuong is closely connected with Phan Van Giang-Tran Cong Chinh-Tran Quoc To, then he will no longer be a “baby bird” but will become a real eagle. This is exactly what Lam is worried about.
The fact that Cuong was assigned two strangers to the assistant position shows that his real power is not great, if not weak. It is highly likely that the State President is gradually losing control over his own political life.
Up to now, only Le Duc Anh, Nguyen Phu Trong and To Lam are the state presidents with real power, the rest are all formal. With the rank of General of the Army, will Cuong become a second Le Duc Anh? With the obligation to accept strangers as subordinates, it seems that he is no stronger than Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Vo Van Thuong.
The war in the royal court is very fierce. In the position of State President, Cuong is sitting close to the “tiger cage,” if he does not turn himself into a tiger, he will easily become the prey of others.
Tran Chuong – Thoibao.de
