Former Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy
The National Assembly relieved Vo Van Thuong of his duties as President of Vietnam for the 2021-2026 term during an extraordinary session on Thursday morning.
Thuong served in this position for over a year, starting March 2, 2023.
The lawmakers’ decision came after the Communist Party Central Committee agreed Wednesday afternoon to let President Vo Van Thuong be removed from office, at his personal request.
Thuong will step down as chairman, member of the Politburo, member of the 13th Party Central Committee and chairman of the Defense and Security Council for the 2021-2026 term, according to a decision announced at a special session of the committee.
A statement from the Party Central Committee office said Thuong, as a key leader of the Communist Party and the state of Vietnam, was entrusted with several important leadership positions in the country.
However, he committed violations of Party regulations, according to reports from the Central Inspection Commission and other relevant authorities.
“Vo Van Thuong’s violations and shortcomings have negatively affected public perception, as well as the reputation of the Party and the State. Aware of his responsibilities before the Party, the State and the people, Thuong submitted his resignation of his duties,” It said.
Thuong, 54, was Vietnam’s youngest sitting president when he was elected to the post for the 2021-2026 term by the National Assembly on March 2 last year, after his predecessor Nguyen Xuan Phuc requested to be removed from office.
With a master’s degree in philosophy, Thuong, a native of the southern province of Vinh Long, began his political career by holding leadership positions in the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Youth Union.
He became Party Secretary of central Quang Ngai Province in August 2011, then permanent deputy Party Secretary of HCMC in 2014. He became head of the Information and Education Commission in February 2016.
He was a permanent member of the Secretariat from February 2021 to March 2023.
