President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc tendered his resignation, but was effectively fired as part of a massive anti-corruption campaign. Many of the abuses are related to the treatment of the corona pandemic.
Served as president in Vietnam for almost two years Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has submitted his resignation and retired, says the country’s state news agency.
In effect, the Communist Party of Vietnam fired the president.
The party ruled that Phúc was responsible for the misconduct of several ministers between 2016 and 2012. Phúc served as Prime Minister before being appointed President.
There had been rumors about Phúc’s dismissal, especially on social media, after two ministers were dismissed by the government earlier in January.
The president’s resignation still needs to be approved by Vietnam’s National Assembly.
Political resignation is a rare act in Communist Party-led Vietnam. In Vietnam, the president has not resigned or has never been dismissed before the end of his term of office.
Abuses are related to decisions during the pandemic
The abuses mainly took place during the corona pandemic. At least a hundred authorities and people working in business have been arrested as part of the scandal related to the distribution of corona tests.
In addition, several diplomats and police officers have been arrested in connection with the repatriation of Vietnamese people from the world during the pandemic.
To prevent the spread of the virus, Vietnam closed its borders and organized hundreds of chartered flights to bring its citizens home from more than 60 countries. The flights cost exorbitantly and the officials collected large special fees for them in their own pockets, according to investigations by the Ministry of National Security.
The office of the president in Vietnam is largely ceremonial. Nguyễn Xuân Phúc was appointed to the position in April 2021, when he was mostly praised for his good handling of the pandemic.
It has not yet been announced who will replace Phúc as president.
Sources: AFP, Reuters, AP