Vietnam's Secretary-General of the Communist Party, the country's highest leader, 80-year-old Nguyen Phu Trong, is taking a break from politics to focus on his health and receive medical care, according to the Communist Party.
Instead, President To Lam will lead the country. However, it is unclear how long Lam will lead the country and what kind of medical care Trong needs.
Trong's increasingly deteriorating health has led to great speculation that he will not be able to remain in power until the party congress in 2026, when the party is expected to appoint a successor.
Trong has been Secretary-General since 2011, which, according to human rights groups, has coincided with Vietnam's development towards an increasingly authoritarian regime.
The country's communist regime has undergone a series of major changes in recent months, where several presidents, ministers, and business leaders have fallen out of favor as part of a comprehensive anti-corruption operation.
