Vietnam President Phuc resigns amid corruption crackdown by authorities

Vietnam’s government announced Tuesday that President Nguyen Xuan Phuc had resigned after the Communist Party of the nation accused him of being to blame for “violations and wrongdoing” by subordinates.

Phuc, a former prime minister largely credited with pushing pro-business reforms, is the highest senior official targeted by the party’s vast anti-corruption drive. Since 2021, Phuc has held the president’s position, which is primarily ceremonial.
In Vietnam, there is no supreme leader; instead, the party secretary, the president, the prime minister, and the speaker of the parliament serve as the four “pillars” of the government.

The government said that Phuc, 68, was ultimately accountable for the wrongdoings of numerous officials, including two deputy prime ministers and three ministers.

“Fully being aware of his responsibilities before the party and people, he submitted an application to resign from his assigned positions, quit his job and retire,” it said in statement.

Following the removal of two of his deputy prime ministers in January, there had been widespread rumours that he will be replaced as the party intensifies its “blazing furnace” anti-corruption campaign under the direction of its influential and long-serving leader, Nguyen Phu Trong.