Vietnam: President Phuc resigns amid anti-corruption campaign

Vietnam’s President Nguyen Xuan Phuc has resigned, state media announced today, after days of rumors of his impending resignation as part of a sweeping anti-corruption campaign.

Phuc “submitted his resignation from the positions he held, withdrew from his positions and retired,” state news agency VNA reported.

The 68-year-old Phuc, a former prime minister, has held the largely ceremonial role of president for less than two years. It was not immediately clear who would replace him.

This sudden departure is highly unusual in Vietnam, where political changes are generally orchestrated very carefully by the communist regime, which tries to project an image of stability.

It comes after two deputy prime ministers were suspended this month as part of an anti-corruption campaign that also led to the arrest of dozens of other high-ranking officials.

According to the VNA, Phuc “assumed his political responsibilities as leader after high-ranking public officials, including two vice prime ministers and three ministers, committed violations and omissions that had very serious consequences.”

Phuc’s resignation, to take effect, requires the approval of the National Assembly, which, according to Reuters, will hold an emergency session this week, something that rarely happens.

Nguyen Xuan Phuc has been the president of Vietnam since 2021. He was previously the prime minister since 2016.

Vietnam has no supreme leader and is officially governed by four “pillars”: the powerful party secretary, the president, the prime minister and the speaker of parliament.

RES-EMP

Read the News today and get the latest news.
Follow Skai.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news.