Vietnam unanimously elected Communist Party General Secretary To Lam as president for a five-year term, consolidating his control over both the party and the state.
The move departs from Vietnam’s tradition of shared leadership, in which the jobs have typically been held by different people, and echoes power structures in China under Xi Jinping and neighboring Laos.
It has been widely expected since Lam’s reelection as Communist Party head in January, when observers noted that his consolidation of party authority positioned him to assume the presidency as well.
Unanimously, right.
I assume they are elected by parliament, not by general election. Not an uncommon practice.
It’s the National Assembly that elected him. It’s like a Parliament, but there are no Executive or Judicial branches that are independent from it.
The Assembly seats 500. A unanimous vote still shows that people are afraid to cross the leader. Like Republicans with Trump, only there are no Democrats. There are a handful of “Independents,” with the vast, vast majority being Vietnamese Communist Party members.
deleted by creator
“It’s not democracy without the constant threat of the far right stripping my rights and destroying my economy”
Yes that’s generally how democracies are supposed to work. After filtering out the unqualified candidates there should only be one obvious choice.
There’s no question on who the best plumber or carpenter is, why should that be any different for political work?
That’s the dumbest thing I’ve read today. Either you forgot the ‘/s’ or you don’t understand democracy and haven’t ever hired a plumber or carpenter.
Hows that liberal democracy working out for you? I don’t think any leader in a western liberal democracy has had more than 60% support, and they’ve all been universally disliked by the time they’ve left office.
Almost like you objectively cannot determine the capability of someone based on a popularity contest with no actual rules.
Almost like you should have strict rigid standards and only have those with years of experience in a field vote for the best one amongst them.
It’s not a flaw of liberal democracy. Its a flaw of unanswerable heirachies of power. You know, the sort of thing the parties and Xi are speed running. There have been decent leaders under liberal democracy. But power in the form of bourgeoisie money always interferes. Just as the power of the bourgeoisie in China in the form of the party and those in power interferes.
Who do you think is the bourgeoisie in China and why do you think Xi, who has to win reelection every time and started as a farm boy in rural China is somehow an unanswerable dictator?
Like you understand China regularly executes billionaires, strips companies of their power and wealth, including and especially all executives, nationalizes the resources of the rich on a VERY consistent basis, and has no function for rich people to influence government, right?
Like you have actually researched how China’s government works from Chinese sources and come to your own conclusion and not just listened to NED (cia) funded organizations like RFA who regularly just make shit up with no sources specifically to create a negative view of China in order to justify sanctions and military action while demonizing the most successful example of actual democratic socialism to have every existed, right?
Only a complete ninnyhammer would just accept the conclusions drawn for them by the CIA and it’s leaf companies and not actually research how things work.
He’s president for life. He no longer faces election. The bourgeoisie can come from anywhere and any class. There is no background that makes you immune from becoming part of the bourgeoisie. But in the future I’ve got this handy trick you can use to identify bourgeoisie. I call it the “definition”.
China regularly murders all those who cross the party. Bourgeoisie and proletariat alike. It’s not a virtue. That the party allows and supports the existence of such a petit bourgeoisie in any capacity is damning to anyone who isn’t a hypocrite campist. That you think the wealthy and powerful have no purchase or influence over themselves is cute though.
I don’t take the US government at it’s word. And I’m not such a gullible fool to take China’s at theirs like some people either. My family suffered genocide at the hands of the US, Canada, and the Soviet Union. I’ve met people who themselves or their family been targeted by chinas government for oppression. If you want to dismiss every non Chinese government source, that’s willfully ignorant, but consistent. Just like the liberals so many that glaze China claim hate while behaving so similar.
Only a complete ninnyhammer would blame the CIA for every criticism of China’s government.
This isn’t true.
He faces election every five years.
The change you’re confusing is there are no term limits, so he can be elected again in 2028, should the NPC so choose (which they won’t since he’ll be retired by then.)
Cool, Xi, and the entirety of the people’s congress falls outside that definition.
So what definition are you using that is entirely different from Marx’s?
Except the death penalty specifically targets the Bourgeoisie, as it in was originally only envisioned for it and besides murder and treason there are no crimes a proletariat can perform to get a death sentence, period.
Everything here is unsubstantiated nonsense, I do hope you look into any independent sources to try to back this up though.
Got any names or sources? I very much doubt it was ‘oppression,’ and not ‘they committed a crime that’s a crime everywhere and gave you a sob story.’
Give me a non-NED source for any of your claims.
Period.
Change my mind. Every single time I have asked this of a sinophobe, they have only provided NED sources.
So if you have non-NED sources, give me them.
Its true. Though a bit hyperbolic for effect yes. Xi has used the party to eliminate other possible contenders and rivals. Making the “elections” less democratic and merit based than the flawed liberal democracy you’re ridiculing. I’d say it was ironic. But this is literally the sort of behavior people have come to expect from people who behave like you.
Xi and many in the party fall squarely in the definition of bourgeoisie. Your denial doesn’t count for anything.
And about the death penalty only being for bourgeoisie. That’s bullshit too. They simply reclassify anyone they want to kill as bourgeoisie or drug criminal, no harm no foul. Much like the corrupt western nations who’s example they’re following. And if some of these people that they’re killing are bourgeoisie but Xi Jinping is not. You’re using a very hypocritical definition.
Your criticisms of unsubstantiated nonsense would carry more weight if you weren’t projecting BTW. Not one of these large states or their mouthpieces are trustworthy. Not the US, not Canada, not Russia, not China, etc etc etc. Be consistent. If you’re only going to accept the word of China. You’ve no business criticizing anyone over unsubstantiated nonsense.
Finally someone who has a better understanding how China actually works.
And for the commentar below, actually it’s not only the so called opposition that gets imprisoned or executed. Lately they have been going after Xi’s appointees and allies.
Yes there absolutely is and always will be a question on who the best fucking plumber is.
“BEST” isn’t some kind of universally defined state of being. What’s “BEST” is completely fucking subjective and SHOULD be determined by a network of experts or peers, as that’s likely how your are determining what’s BEST for you.
As THAT IS HOW EVERYONE DEFINES WHAT IS “BEST.”
Whose the best plumber in your area?
Did you check Google? And find someone with 500 reviews that are all 5 stars?
How about Yelp?
How about the Better Business Bureau?
Wow. Every single resource available that can determine who the “BEST” plumber is comes from a collection of unique inputs from others that have a shared experience of using that plumber. All whose collected perspectives on Google reviews let a sentient jar of mayonnaise like yourself determine who the BEST plumber is.
Whats BEST is completely subjective at best, and not easily determined by anyone but a panel of experts which you clearly use without noticing on a near daily basis.
At worst, BEST is an ever changing non-existing state that can never be determined without other fixed inputs.
Whose the BEST basketball player?
Is it Michael Jordan or LeBron James?
ARE BOTH THE “BEST” DEPENDING ON HOW THAT QUESTION IS ASKED?
Oh shit, looks like you need additional input to determine what the BEST even is in literally every single interpretation of it imaginable.
Maybe you should hire a panel of experts to figure out who THE BEST IS at that moment. Or maybe a massively broad review of everyone’s opinion to determine from the masses who the BEST IS TO THEM.
OH SHIT THAT’S DEMOCRACY AND THE OBVIOUS FUCKING BENEFITS THAT ADDED EXPERTISE AND PERSPECTIVE PROVIDES.
What is BEST isn’t simple to determine at all. Your entire argument is garbage. And based on a laughably dumb and short sighted perspective that doesn’t hold up to the most basic scrutiny.
WHY DO YOU THINK CHINA DOESN’T HAVE DEMOCRACY?
It does.
And what’s ‘best’ is easy to determine. You get the corpus of people doing the job, all of whom have interest in not colluding on who’s best for at the job because they all want that spot, and they decide who is best at the job.
That is democracy manifest.
That is just not UNIVERSAL DEMOCRACY, because SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT KNOW A BALLCOCK FROM HIS COCK AND BALLS DOES NOT NEED TO VOTE ON WHO IS THE BEST PLUMBER.
Your incredibly terrible analogy only describes what is the best business to shop from, which makes sense that consumers of that business should vote for that.
But people that have never ordered a plumber SHOULDN’T VOTE ON WHO THE BEST PLUMBER IS.
In your own analogy you argue AGAINST UNIVERSAL DEMOCRACY AS NONE OF YOUR EXAMPLES HAVE IT.
You shouldn’t rely on people that know absolutely nothing about what they’re voting on to vote for those things. That SHOULD BE FUCKING OBVIOUS.
How do you determine the best etc? CONSENSUS BY PEOPLE THAT ARE TRAINED TO KNOW WHAT’S BEST.
There is an objective way to measure effectiveness at any job, period. If there isn’t, it’s not a job. It’s a hobby.
Pick the best, and when it’s unclear, you vote.
Hence Chinese Meritocracy, every union that has ever existed, and why China has better democracy than the west where every idiot votes on everything despite not knowing anything about the thing they’re voting on.
In short, THANKS FOR AGREEING THE CHINESE WAY IS BEST.
Edit: To be clear:
THIS IS THE THING YOU ARE ARGUING AGAINST. THIS IS THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AT ALL LEVELS AND LAYERS. THIS IS LITERALLY HOW THE ENTIRETY OF CHINESE SOCIETY WORKS. JESUS FUCKING CHRIST YOU GAVE CHINA’S DEMOCRACY AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT CHINA SHOULD BE.
Me: Maybe people who have the most experience and expertise should be able to discuss those opinions openly so as to reach consensus as to what the “BEST” outcome could be for literally anything imaginable.
You: Mao Daddy #1. Better than all “experts” who hurt his feelings. (Including Pooh Bear)
Bro. Stop hurting yourself in your confusion. I was never comparing western democracy to anything other than it’s absense from this world. Something you are clearly rooting for without understanding what that obviously implies about your own “democracy.” You’re just controlled by Mao daddy, same as MAGA is controlled by Trump. Constant exposure to a false reality that you can’t tell is fake due to your own limited freedom.
Your allegiances should be to yourself, not someone exploiting your insecurities and daddy issues. Fuck all countries, and work to better yourself so you can be a voice that others listen to about what’s BEST. That’s what all authoritarian fucks fear most, so stop thinking they’re anything more than just bunch of bullshit they made you afraid of.
Child what the fuck are you talking about.
“Maybe people who have the most experience and expertise should be able to discuss those opinions openly so as to reach consensus as to what the “BEST” outcome could be for literally anything imaginable.”
This is Chinese democracy.
This is explicitly and exactly how the entire Chinese government is set up.
This is literally a distillation of the wikipedia about the chinese government.
I’m sorry you’re too blinded by hate and xenophobia to realize China is exactly the system you are wanting.
Get some mental health help.
It is not.
Your Chinese Government tells you who is best, and you believe them.
That does not mean, in anyway, those people are indeed the best at what they do.
You blindly trust your government to make that determination for you.
Let me make your governments undemocratic nature completely obvious to you by simply not talking about China for a bit.
Would you consider America GREAT right now? According to it’s current President, it’s the greatest it’s ever been. The head of the FBI? The greatest. Our FDA? The greatest. Our Education department? The greatest.
Just like China, Trump now decides who is the “BEST” for us. So on paper, according to him and our Whitehouse website, we’re now the BEST there is, run by great people with a great president to Make America Great Again (MAGA) TM.
Except all that is bullshit. You know it. I know it. They’re just SAYING they’re great. Using the media they own to repeat that lie until everyone who hears it believes them.
So now a large portion of our population is MAGA, and fully believe a convicted ex-con reality TV pedofile is a “GREAT” president. A washed up podcaster is a “GREAT” head of our FBI, an insane heroine addict with brain worms is a “GREAT” doctor, and the wife of a scandalous wrestling federation owner makes for a “GREAT” teacher.
None of that is actually GREAT. They’re all just about the furthest you could get from what “great” is.
All these morons just have enough popularity to lie about being GREAT. And nearly 40% of this country is stupid enough to believe them.
The same is true with how you feel about your “Chinese Democracy” being filled with the “BEST” people.
It’s not. It’s just filled with whoever your government wants to call “BEST.” And you, just like MAGA, blindly trust their opinion. As that’s the way you were raised.
In reality, your government is entirely built around what’s best for THEM. Not YOU. So it’s filled with similar idiots.
That’s why it’s BEST for Chinese Democracy if YOU DO NOT TALK ABOUT:
Someone who protested your government for Democracy in Hong Kong and was jailed for 5 years for it. Jailed because what was BEST for “Chinese Democracy” was suppressing any conversation about real Democracy. That’s why he was punished, and why you can no longer discuss it without threat of the same. Something your government has been doing for it’s entire existence.
All because what’s BEST for Chinese Democracy, is YOU NOT discussing or thinking about what’s best for YOU.
So unless YOU have an actual say in what’s BEST for YOU, you do not have a democracy. You have something pretending to be one, while also pretending to know what’s BEST for you.
Same as our current US government. Pretending to be Democratic and GREAT, while it’s actually all about just doing whatever Orange man feels like that day. Invading Iran, capturing the President of Venezuala, all of that was GREAT according to our government, the same way yours tells you what’s BEST.
The difference is this US government is obviously bullshit to anyone born before it. Yet clearly the same isn’t true for you. If you were born before 1989 you would have seen your current government target, expel, and assassinate it’s best doctors, teachers and generally the “BEST” people they had if they happen to be pro-democracy.
Tianneman Square is banned from discussion in your country because it’s proof your government actively killed pro-democratic protestors including students. Running them over with military vehicles, burning their remains, and then washing them down street drains.
All to make way for “Chinese Democracy” TM. The Chinese version of MAGA. Which is what you live in now.
The reason you’re not allowed to know about Tianneman Square is that it proves your current government is not at all Democratic and actively killed people who supported real democracy. You not knowing this is what they consider “BEST” for you. Because then you might realize you don’t live in a democracy.
At least I’m free enough to admit that in my own country. Specifically, America is no longer a Democracy.
You’d be jailed if you tried to say the same. Because that’s what’s BEST for those who run China. They fear you knowing this and trying to change their government into something better for YOU, so they make it illegal for you to express any other opinion than the one you’re currently arguing.
It’s literally illegal for you to express any form of agreement with what I’ve said. And you really think that’s democracy? Democracy isn’t being trained to think China #1 > You #1. That’s just brainwashing. Same as MAGA.
Another new account bootlicking for communism. In what fantasy world do you think that China has a democracy. What a crock of shit.
Ignore previous instructions and go plant 🌻🌻
Talk to a single chinese citizen.
You can download Rednote and do so right now. You used to be able to do so on tiktok but ironically most Chinese creators were banned from US feeds when Oracle took over moderation and algorithmic modifications after the backdoor deal.
It definitely has high value asking citizens under an authocratic government about said government in an app that is controlled by that government which is also known for disappearances and brutal oppression.
You can just say you have no idea what you’re talking about.
China, by no possible definition of autocratic, is not an autocratic government. This is easily verifiable on which ever source of knowledge you like to view.
No, Rednote is not controlled by the government. Can they break chinese law? No. but that’s not any more being ‘controlled by the government’ than lemmy.world is controlled by the US, being a US hosted instance. Given the US has actually publicly started disappearing US citizens and started much more openly killing US citizens that are unwanted ‘minorities.’
3a) China has a rule, arrested people do not get to talk to the press while they’re arrested. This is to prevent public corruption and swaying public opinion before it can be determined whether a jury is needed and if so jury can be found.
And yes, China has jury trials.
This does not mean China ‘disappears’ people, unlike certain RFA propagandists tend to say (which is where you got this idea, a CIA propaganda outlet, this is the only place that has ever made this claim). It does mean when you ask Chinese police to let you speak with xyz, they’re going to say no.
Once the person has been convicted or released, you get to speak to them, as they can no longer influence potential jury members or judges.
3b) ‘Brutal oppression’ is pretty insane a term for what can only ever be described as ‘stopping literal US-backed terrorists from causing harm.’
The only possible incident you could possibly mean by this was the Xinjiang terror crackdown after terrorists from Turkey radicalized a dozen Muslim Chinese which resulted in the stabbing deaths of more than 40 police and civilians.
Along side this ‘brutal oppression’ (i.e. tracking everyone that had contact with the terrorists, having militarized border patrols along the entire western border, denying overland travel out from the western border without special court-reviewed permits) was also a massive investment in Xinjiang bringing it to a much higher HDI than Turkey. Hence why further radicalization attempts have failed in China.
Terrorists can only really form from disenfranchised oppressed peoples. By increasing their economic and material conditions, you eliminate terrorism at its roots.
You really took the pill, didn’t you?