The time when incumbent Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh was Secretary of the Quang Ninh Provincial Party Committee, was the time when Communist leader General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong put all his “power” into attacking then PM Nguyen Tan Dung’s stronghold. That was the period when Trong was still weak in his new position, the position of party chief in the first term. At that time, even though he knew that Chinh was a product of Nguyen Tan Dung, Chinh was still “young and green” so Trong did not pay attention to him.
Nguyen Phu Trong stepped onto the chair of General Secretary in the position of the underclassman compared to Nguyen Tan Dung. The reason is that, during his two terms as General Secretary, Nong Duc Manh – Nguyen Phu Trong’s predecessor – let Nguyen Tan Dung dominate. Therefore, when Trong took over this chair, it took him about 4 years to regain the balance before Nguyen Tan Dung.
In the first term, Nguyen Phu Trong did not pay attention to Pham Minh Chinh, and did not consider him a political opponent, so he did not care. That’s why Pham Minh Chinh has a way to go. Being both a “disciple” of Nguyen Tan Dung and making the most of local relationships, in 2015, Pham Minh Chinh was recruited by fellow Thanh Hoa compatriot To Huy Rua, who was the Head of the Party Central Commission for Organization at that time to hold the position of his deputy. The purpose is to bring Chinh up to replace To Huy Rua in the 12th term of the Party Central Committee.
The 12th Congress took place, Nguyen Tan Dung was knocked out of the political arena, however, at that time, Pham Minh Chinh was also successfully transferred by To Huy Rua to be Head of the Central Commission for Organization. After Nguyen Phu Trong eliminated Nguyen Tan Dung, Trong’s position and power were almost unmatched. This is the time for Trong to clear the grass, including the traitors and remnants of the Nguyen Tan Dung era. It was at this time that Trong eliminated Dinh La Thang from the political arena.
As a junior of Nguyen Tan Dung, but again in the Secretariat, holding the position of Head of the Central Commission for Organization, Pham Minh Chinh is considered to have fallen into the “claws” of Nguyen Phu Trong. This is Pham Minh Chinh’s time “living in the enemy’s heart.” If not clever, Pham Minh Chinh can share the same fate with Dinh The Huynh. However, Pham Minh Chinh was wise, so he did not join the “treason” group (ie the group Dinh La Thang – Dinh The Huynh – Tran Dai Quang). Because of this vital decision, Pham Minh Chinh was not considered by Nguyen Phu Trong as a “traitor.”
After eliminating the “treason” group, Trong still did not believe that Pham Minh Chinh was a docile person. However, the opportunity came again, on April 14, 2019, Trong collapsed in Kien Giang, which is considered the port of Nguyen Tan Dung’s father and son. This is an opportunity for Pham Minh Chinh to show his loyalty to the party chief. Internal information said that while Trong was at Military Hospital 108, every afternoon, Chinh also came to give Mr. him a massage. Although he knew that Nguyen Phu Trong was a fierce tiger, observing his every move, just being “eaten” by the tiger, Pham Minh Chinh still calmly performed a devoted play.
By such performance, Pham Minh Chinh was almost ignored by Nguyen Phu Trong, from then on, Chinh’s position and power grew stronger day by day. While covering up Trong, he lobbied behind the scenes to prepare for the escape from the “tiger cave.” At the 13th National Congress in early 2021, Pham Minh Chinh suddenly rose up, knocking Vuong Dinh Hue out of the race to become Prime Minister. After Pham Minh Chinh sat in the Prime Minister’s chair, and became the second strongest pillar in the Four Pillars, it was then that Nguyen Phu Trong discovered, who he once despised, now became his formidable opponent.
Frankly, Pham Minh Chinh did not have the blood to take risks, so he did not dare to join the “treason group” rather than being wise. That’s the political game, winning is king, losing is death. If the “treason group” successfully counterattacks, then the Four Pillars is not Pham Minh Chinh’s turn.
Thoibao.de (Translated)
