Vietnam Communist Party chief Trong, 80, dies of ‘old age, serious illness’

Vietnam’s President To Lam took over Trong’s duties on Thursday when the party announced ageing leader needed to focus on medical treatment. Though Vietnam officially has no paramount ruler, the Soviet-educated Trong as party general secretary was the most powerful figure in the Communist-ruled nation and had been in the post since 2011.

Vietnam’s President To Lam (above) took over Trong’s duties on Thursday when the party announced ageing leader needed to focus on medical treatment. Photo: EPA-EFE

In 2021, Trong secured a third term after a rule limiting holders to two terms as party boss was waived, showing his strength and significant political clout in a party that has ruled Vietnam for nearly half a century.

But in recent months, he appeared fragile in public events and missed several top-level meetings. The party will need to decide whether Lam will be acting party general secretary until the current term for the post expires after the next Congress in 2026, or whether it will elect a new candidate earlier from within its ranks.

Marxist-Leninist ideologue Trong in 2017 unleashed what many see as a China-style crackdown on corruption, known as “blazing furnace”, under which hundreds of officials were investigated for corruption and many forced to quit, including cabinet ministers, a parliament chairman and two state presidents.

Lam, a former chief of the powerful internal security agency, was a key figure and beneficiary of that campaign and was elected president in May after his predecessor resigned amid accusations of unspecified wrongdoing.

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