Vietnam’s President Tran Dai Quang passes away, and alters history at the same time, with a default to Vietnam’s first female president.
Vietnam’s Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh will take over as president after the death of Tran Dai Qang.
She is pictured here at the Vietnam Korea Institute of Science and Technology at Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park in Hanoi, Vietnam March 22, 2018.REUTERS/KHAM/POOL[/caption]
Newsweek reports, Vietnam will get its first female president after the incumbent, Tran Dai Quang, died at the age of 61 following a serious illness.
Vietnam Television, cited by Reuters, said Quang died despite “utmost efforts to treat him by Vietnamese and foreign professors and doctors and care by the party and state leaders.”
There had been suspicions over Quang’s health last year when he did not appear in public for more than a month.
On September 11, at one of his last appearances, during a visit by Indonesian President Joko Widodo to Hanoi, Quang looked unwell and stumbled as he inspected a guard of honor.
His death brings on major change. According to Vietnam’s constitution the vice-president must take over duties, and in this case the Vice Presideny is a woman. Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh will become the country’s first woman president.
Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh lacks no experience.
She has been a member of the Communist Party since 1979. She was Born on Christmas Day in 1959, in the central province of Quảng Nam. She is also permanent president of the Vietnam Women’s Union, Vietnam News reported.
Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh served as deputy chief of the central party office, and is also on the National Assembly’s external relations committee, according to her biography on the government website.
Her role as president will involve ceremonial duties as she is led by the prime minister and Communist Party chief. In October The National Assembly meets to decide who will have the role permanently.
There is much sadness over Quang’s death as condolences are sent out by many.Gareth Ward, Britain’s Ambassador to Vietnam, wrote on Twitter: “Extremely sad day for Vietnam. I was privileged to meet President Tran Dai Quang last month. My condolences on behalf of @UKinVietnam go to his family, friends and the people of Vietnam.”
A bitter sweet irony has marked Vietnam.
