Vietnam’s president has resigned after just a year in the job, taking responsibility for a corruption scandal involving regional government officials, state-controlled media reported Wednesday.
Vo Van Thuong, 54, was relieved of his position “per his personal request,” which was approved by the Communist Party Central Committee.
The move comes as no surprise, as it had been widely rumored on social media after the government called an emergency meeting for Thursday to discuss “personnel issues.”
Thuong will also leave the Politburo, Party Central Committee and quit his position as president of the defense and security council.
A statement from the Central Committee said Thuong had violated Party regulations.
“Vo Van Thuong’s violations and flaws have negatively affected public perception, as well as the reputation of the Party and the state,” the statement read.
“Being aware of his responsibilities before the Party, the state and the people, Thuong has sent in his resignation from his positions.”
Carl Thayer, Emeritus professor at the Australian Defence Force Academy, said Thuong was forced to resign for his failure to exercise proper supervision over officials in Quang Ngai province during his tenure as provincial party secretary from 2011-14.
“Thuong signed off on a decision to award the Phuc Son Group responsibility to develop the Tra Phuc South Bank River Road Project,” he explained.
“On 8 March this year, the Ministry of Public Security, after an investigation, arrested and detained provincial officials from Quang Ngai province for receiving bribes during Thuong’s tenure as provincial party secretary.”
Thuong became president on March 2, 2023 following the resignation of Nguyen Xuan Phuc, who quit to take responsibility for COVID scandals on his watch.
Vice president Vo Thi Anh Xuan will assume the position of acting president until a permanent replacement for Thuong is appointed.
There are two likely contenders for the job, according to Vietnam-watcher Thayer, Minister of Public Security To Lam and Permanent Member of the Secretariat Truong Thi Mai.
The president’s role is one of the top four political positions in Vietnam.
Edited by Elaine Chan and Taejun Kang.
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