Compared to former Minister of Public Security To Lam before, General Luong Tam Quang now has more advantages.
Previously, late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong only pretended to trust Lam to use him to create political power for himself in the political arena.
Trong saved Lam from the AVG case, not because of his affection for the former police chief, but only as a way to do him a favor, to make it easier to request him to implement his orders. Indeed, since escaping the AVG case and being promoted to minister, Lam has shown enthusiasm, dedication, even enduring humiliation before international public opinion, to please the former party chief.
In fact, Trong does not truly trust Lam. The evidence is that Trong did not choose Lam for his successor but pushed him aside. The officials Trong chose were these with “Marxist-Leninist theories” such as Vuong Dinh Hue or Vo Van Thuong, and that was the reason why Lam rebelled and usurped the throne.
Now, Lam supports Quang sincerely, with absolute trust, not supporting him to take advantage like Trong did. This is a huge advantage for Quang.
Lam also trusts Quang more than Nguyen Duy Ngoc. Therefore, Lam installed Quang to hold the position of Minister of Public Security, and transferred Ngoc to the Secretariat.
Trong only allowed Lam to abuse his power within the police foces, but not to abuse his power beyond the sector, like Quang is currently doing. Quang has usurped the power of the Central Committee’s Commission for Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, when he went to Germany as an envoy, creating a bad precedent. That is the precedent of allowing the Minister of Public Security to interfere in areas that are not the responsibility of the police forces.
With Lam’s leadership, Quang has a great opportunity to become a figure that can make the rest of the Politburo and the Central Party Committee fear. As for Lam, giving too much power to Quang could create risks, when one day, his favorite disciple becomes more famous than his boss.
Up to now, Quang has shown himself to be a rather passive character. Although he is the Minister of Public Security, he mainly only carries out Lam’s verbal orders and has not yet created any personal mark.
Perhaps, the time is still too short, not enough to fully evaluate him. But with what he has done, in the role of deputy to Lam at the Ministry of Public Security, his subordinates evaluate him as “kinder” than Ngoc. Perhaps, because he is kind, Lam is confident in giving him the position of Minister of Public Security. Because if he gives this position to Ngoc, the possibility of Lam “being betrayed” will be higher.
However, giving the position of Minister of Public Security to Quang is still Lam’s gamble. If Quang is really “kind,” it will be difficult to manage his subordinates. The Ministry of Public Security is at risk of being lost to someone else. If Quang is just “pretending to be kind” then Lam’s throne is at risk of being overthrown by his own subordinates.
In politics, there is no eternal friendship, only political interests are eternal. The fact that Lam prioritizes using subordinates from Hung Yen does not mean that he will be safe. The lesson of General Nguyen Ngoc Lam – Deputy Minister of Public Security is an example. Because Lam betrayed his fellows from Nghe An to seek power in the Hung Yen group.
Currently, Quang is a General, a member of the Politburo, and the powerful Minister of Public Security. In this position, he can completely dream of becoming the General Secretary like his predecessor.
By paving the way for his juniors to abuse their power, Lam is turning the Communist Party – which is already lawless – into even more lawless. Society is controlled by armed bosses, not by the law.
Hoang Phuc – Thoibao.de
