UPDATED at 3:45 A.M. ET on 01-14-2024
Vietnam's top leader Nguyen Phu Trong attended an extraordinary session of the country's National Assembly Monday, after speculation that the Communist Party General Secretary's health was suffering, state media reported.
The appearance has failed to address concerns though, as Trong left the session with the help of aides after the chair's opening remarks, according to Reuters. The meeting is due to last two-and-a-half days.
Trong, 79, who has been at the helm of the party since 2011, is the most powerful leader in Vietnam's one-party political system and regularly hosts visiting foreign officials in private meetings.
However, he did not meet Indonesian President Joko Widodo during his three-day state visit, which began Friday.
Trong was also not on the list of Vietnamese leaders to receive Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone over the previous weekend.
Before Monday’s appearance, Trong had not been seen in public since Dec. 26, when he met with the head of the Japanese Communist Party Kazuo Shii in Hanoi.
Trong, who also served as Vietnam’s president from Oct. 2018 to April 2021, was chosen to serve a rule-breaking third five-year term as party secretary in 2021.
His term will expire in 2026 when the Communist Party’s 14th National Congress is expected to take place. The party secretary is supposed to recommend a successor who then needs to be approved by the Central Committee.
Vietnam-watcher Carl Thayer pointed out that the country’s domestic media was silent about rumor’s that Trong had been hospitalized at the end of last year but heavily publicized his reappearance in public on Monday.
“Vietnam must get its public information act together and respond more swiftly in future cases when a key leader falls ill,” said the emeritus professor at the Australian Defense Force Academy in Canberra.
“At the same time Vietnam Communist Party leaders should make explicit the line of succession and the protocols that are in place to maintain continuity in leadership. But first, given Trong’s early departure from the National Assembly meeting, responsible Vietnamese officials should make clear whether or not Trong will resume official duties.”
Edited by Taejun Kang and Elaine Chan.
Updated to add comment from Carl Thayer.