Nguyen Phu Trong, the most influential politician in Vietnam and the general secretary of the Communist Party, has died at the age of 80, Fox News reports. He held the nation's most powerful position for 13 years and served as President of Vietnam from 2018 to 2021.

Trong passed away Friday afternoon due to "old age" and a "period of illness," the Communist Party said in a statement. Vietnam President To Lam had taken over Trong's duties on Thursday after the Communist Party announced that Trong needed to focus on medical matters.

Trong's medical team said, according to the Communist Party's statement, that he died "after a period of illness, despite being wholeheartedly treated by the Party, the State, a collective of professors, doctors, and leading medical experts."

The nation's most powerful party will be required to determine whether Lam would continue as interim party general secretary until the current term for the position expires after the next Congress in 2026, or whether it would elect a new candidate from within its ranks before then.

Trong, who had served as the party general secretary since 2011, was the most influential figure in Vietnam, despite the absence of a paramount autocrat as an official position. In 2021, he was granted a third term as party leader after a rule was waived that prohibited holders from serving more than two terms. This achievement underscored his political clout and strength in a part that has governed Vietnam for nearly fifty years.