A powerful security official was named president of Vietnam on Wednesday, the third person in the job in less than 18 months amid jostling ahead of a generational change in leadership. On Monday, lawmakers approved the nomination of Tran Thanh Man, 61, as the chairman of the National Assembly. Consequently, both General Lam and Mr. Man could be in the running to replace Nguyen Phu Trong, who has been the party chief for the past 13 years. Mr. Trong, 80, is serving an unprecedented third five-year term as leader after he was re-elected in 2021. The succession vacuum has led to an intense power struggle in Vietnam — which was once known for its stable and scripted politics — ahead of the next leadership transition in 2026.

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Persons: Lam, Tran, General Lam, Nguyen, Trong Organizations: Vietnamese Communist Party, National Assembly Locations: Vietnam, Tran Thanh