Vietnam’s Communist Party grapples with succession dilemma after Nguyen Phu Trong’s death

Nguyen Phu Trong’s death leaves the ruling Communist Party searching for a new leader to guide it amid economic and geopolitical uncertainty

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Vietnam’s Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong addresses the media in Hanoi last year. Photo: AP

Published: 3:06pm, 23 Jul 2024Updated: 5:10pm, 23 Jul 2024

The sudden death of Vietnam’s top Communist Party leader has raised questions about the future direction of the country’s government and policies.

Nguyen Phu Trong, the powerful general secretary who oversaw rapid economic growth and a high-profile anti-corruption drive, died on Friday at the age of 80 due to “old age and serious illness”, according to a government statement.

Trong’s passing marks the first time in over three decades that such a high-ranking Vietnamese official has died while still in office. Experts warn this power vacuum could trigger a period of “power competition” as the party navigates the challenge of transferring authority to a younger generation.

Hanoi has announced plans for a state funeral this week, with two days of national mourning declared in Trong’s honour. The government called the late leader’s death after a 13-year tenure “a huge loss” for the party, the state and the Vietnamese people.

In the interim, Trong’s duties have been temporarily assigned to President To Lam, Vietnam’s top security official who previously led the general secretary’s sweeping anti-corruption campaign. This shift at the apex of power comes as Vietnam faces crucial questions about how it will manage continuity and change in the post-Trong era.

Vietnamese President To Lam has temporarily taken on Trong’s duties following his death. Photo: EPA-EFE

Major policy shifts are unlikely in the near term following Trong’s death, according to Zachary Abuza, a Southeast Asia expert and professor at the National War College in Washington. Acting leader Lam will serve in the position until the Communist Party’s 14th Congress, expected to be held in January 2026, Abuza said.