Vietnamese leader Nguyen Phu Trong, the general secretary of Vietnam's Communist Party, has passed away at the age of 80 due to old age and serious illness. Trong had been at the helm of the party since 2011 and was considered the country's top leader. His death comes amid a series of upheavals in Vietnam's communist regime, including a vast anti-corruption campaign that has seen numerous officials fall from grace [f951a35e] [7df62e4e].
The announcement of Trong's death came one day after the party revealed that he would hand over power to To Lam, the country's president and former public security minister, due to health issues. Lam's appointment as president raises the possibility that he could eventually become the party's general secretary if Trong's successor steps down before the end of their term in 2026 [f951a35e] [0a993d50].
Trong's tenure as general secretary was marked by his anti-corruption drive and restructuring of the party. The campaign resulted in the indictment and imprisonment of thousands of people, including former ministers and mayors. However, it also slowed down everyday transactions within the business sector and state apparatus [f951a35e].
Trong's death has prompted condolences from world leaders, including US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trong's passing comes at a critical time for Vietnam, as the country undergoes a political reshuffle and consolidation of power within the communist regime. The ongoing anti-corruption campaign and the country's closer alignment with China are key areas of interest as Vietnam navigates its domestic and international challenges [f951a35e] [a7406e79] [0a993d50] [36262d82].
Vietnamese social media users have taken to platforms like Facebook, X, and Threads to express their grief and mourn the death of Nguyen Phu Trong. Many users have changed their profile pictures to black as a sign of mourning, and have posted photos and eulogies of Trong, referring to him as a bright and perfect communist and a sharp politician. Vietnamese state media agencies and companies have also changed their profile pictures to black in tribute to Trong. Vietnam will hold a state funeral for Trong next week, with funeral events scheduled for July 25 and 26 and flags flown at half-staff. Trong's death marks the first time a party general secretary has died in office since 1986 [1c44a92d].