Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong has submitted his resignation after only one year in office, the government of this communist country announced on Wednesday March 20, engaged in a vast anti-corruption purge.
According to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), the president declared himself guilty of “violations and shortcomings,” and his resignation was accepted by the central committee of the ruling Communist Party.
The 53-year-old’s spectacular downfall comes as Vietnam experiences profound political upheaval, with his predecessor also ousted amid an anti-corruption drive that saw several ministers sacked and chief executives leading company tried for fraud and corruption.
Vo Van Thuong violated unspecified “regulations,” and failed to set an example as head of state, VNA reported. “Comrade Vo Van Thuong’s violations and shortcomings were frowned upon by public opinion, affecting the reputation of the party, the state and his own,” VNA added. “Fully aware of his responsibility towards the party, the state and the people, he submitted his resignation from the functions entrusted to him. » The National Assembly, which strictly follows the instructions of party officials, will hold an extraordinary session on Thursday to confirm this resignation.
Resignation of his predecessor
Vietnam is ruled by the Communist Party. At the head of the authoritarian regime are officially the party general secretary, president and prime minister, with the main decisions made by the Politburo, which currently has 16 members. Although the president is the head of state, the regime’s strongman is the party’s general secretary, Nguyen Phu Trong, considered the architect of the anti-corruption campaign, popular with public opinion. Vietnamese.
Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan is expected to take over until a permanent replacement is found. Vo Van Thuong became president on March 2, 2023, following the surprise resignation of his predecessor, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, an unusual event in Vietnam, where stability is emphasized and political changes carefully orchestrated. Before Nguyen Xuan Phuc, only one other Vietnamese president had resigned, for health reasons.
When he took office a year ago, Vo Van Thuong declared himself “determined to fight corruption” and was believed to be close to the party’s general secretary, Nguyen Phu Trong.
No details have been made public about the reasons for Vo Van Thuong’s departure. But earlier this month, the Ministry of Public Security announced it was expanding an investigation into an infrastructure development company in three provinces, including of Quang Ngai (center), of which Vo Van Thuong was previously the party leader. The ministry said the Phuc Son company was suspected of falsifying its accounts to evade taxes, and its investigators had arrested nine people, including five Quang Ngai officials.