The Vietnamese parliament made a significant decision on Thursday, approving the resignation of President Vo Van Thuong amidst a sweeping crackdown on corruption and political disputes.
This crackdown also saw Thuong’s predecessor, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, abruptly forced to resign last January.
According to state-run Tuoi Tre news, the National Assembly voted to dismiss Thuong during a closed session held at an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday.
In the wake of Thuong’s resignation, Vietnam’s Vice President, Vo Thi Anh Xuan, who holds one of the few senior political positions as a woman, will step in as acting president until the National Assembly selects a permanent replacement.
The ruling Communist Party had earlier declared Thuong guilty of “violations and shortcomings,” leading to his resignation after just a year in office. However, specific details regarding his transgressions have not been disclosed.
Speculation about Thuong’s resignation had been circulating for several days, and last week, the cancellation of a planned state visit by the Dutch royal family by Vietnam was attributed to “internal circumstances.”
Traditionally valuing stability and cautious political transitions, Vietnam’s political landscape has been disrupted by an extensive anti-corruption campaign, believed to be orchestrated by party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, widely regarded as the country’s most influential figure.
The crackdown on corruption has led to the prosecution of several top business leaders in high-profile fraud and corruption cases, with one facing a potential death penalty in a $12.5 billion bond scam trial.
With the recent resignations, the party’s politburo, its principal decision-making body, has now seen the departure of four out of its 18 members since 2021, including two presidents, a deputy prime minister, and a former trade minister.
