Vietnam’s long-serving leader, Nguyen Phu Trong, has passed away “after a period of illness,” marking the end of a significant political era. His death, announced on Friday, comes shortly after the government revealed he was stepping back to focus on his health and had transferred his duties to President To Lam.
Nguyen Phu Trong, who served as the general secretary of Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party since 2011, and at one point also held the presidency, was one of the country’s most influential leaders in decades. He was 80 years old.
During his tenure, Trong oversaw remarkable economic growth in Vietnam. He was also known for his “blazing furnaces” anti-corruption campaign, which sought to root out corruption within the government and party ranks.
Trong’s passing occurs amidst a period of political turbulence for Vietnam’s Communist leadership. In recent months, three top leaders resigned following unspecified accusations of wrongdoing. According to the official statement, Trong died “due to old age and serious illness,” a day after the government surprisingly announced he needed time for “active treatment” for an unspecified condition. On that same day, Trong was awarded the Gold Star, Vietnam’s highest honor, for his contributions to the party and country.
Seen as recently as late June during a state visit from Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trong’s absence from subsequent events, including the launch of a book of his speeches, fueled speculation about his health. His occasional acknowledgments of health issues did little to quell rumors, intensified by a report in 2019 that he had a stroke. Vietnam’s strict control over information regarding the health of top officials, classified as a state secret since 2018, further contributed to the mystery.
Trong’s legacy is multifaceted and complex. Rising to power in 2011, he remained as general secretary for an unusual three terms and served as president from 2018 to 2021. Under his leadership, Vietnam’s GDP per capita more than doubled, and the country signed numerous free trade agreements with Western and Asian nations. Trong fostered relations with global leaders, including U.S. Presidents and China’s Xi Jinping, reflecting his willingness to engage internationally while steadfastly maintaining socialist ideals.
“He was a career lifelong ideologue… he was a true believer, and I think that’s why in some ways relations between Vietnam and China have grown so close,” noted Zachary M. Abuza, a professor and Southeast Asia expert at the National War College in Washington, DC. Giang Nguyen, a visiting senior fellow with the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore, added, “He always believed in making the party clean and relevant so that the party could live with the country for another 1,000 years.”
Trong’s anti-corruption efforts were extensive, with nearly 200,000 officials facing charges or disciplinary actions. However, these measures have not eradicated corruption, as evidenced by a recent $44 billion fraud scandal. Critics argue that the drive has led to a critical shortage in public service and instability within the Communist Party, leaving few potential successors. Only President To Lam and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh meet the conditions to inherit his post.
Melissa Enoch
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