Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong resigns amid high-profile corruption scandal

Business a.m.

The Communist Party of Vietnam has announced the resignation of President Vo Van Thuong, after serving just over a year in office. This comes as the country’s anti-corruption campaign has intensified, leading to the resignation of several high-ranking officials.

In a statement, the Communist Party’s central committee noted that the violations of President Vo Van Thuong have damaged the reputation of the Communist Party of Vietnam and its leadership.

““Vo Van Thuong’s violations and flaws have negatively affected public perception, as well as the reputation of the Party and the state. Being aware of his responsibilities before the Party, the state and the people, Thuong has sent in his resignation from his positions,” it stated.

Thuong, who was 54 years old at the time of his resignation, had been in office for just over a year, having taken over from former president,Nguyen Xuan Phuc. Phuc resigned from his post in February 2023, citing political responsibility for the corruption scandals that had erupted during the pandemic. 

In accordance with the decision announced by the Communist Party’s Central Committee, Thuong will vacate his positions as President, Politburo member, 13th Party Central Committee member, and President of the defense and security council for the 2021-2026 term. The extraordinary session of the committee was the sixth of its kind since the start of the 2021-2026 term, highlighting the turmoil and uncertainty that has surrounded Vietnam’s politics in recent years.

The announcement of Thuong’s resignation has triggered a series of follow-up events, including an extraordinary session of the National Assembly, which is the country’s legislative body. During this session, the National Assembly will make a decision on who will fill the vacant position of President. 

In Vietnam, the position of president is largely ceremonial, with the role of head of government and the highest-ranking political figure being the general secretary of the Communist Party. Nevertheless, the position is still an important one and will be subject to intense debate and discussion.