Vietnam president Nguyen Xuan Phuc steps down

According to a statement released from an extraordinary meeting of the committee, Phuc was a key leader of the Communist Party and the State. He was trusted and assigned to many important positions by the committee and the Politburo.

As the prime minister during the 2016-2021 period, Phuc led and operated efforts in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic which gained important results.

However, as the leader, he was responsible for letting several officials, including two deputy prime ministers and three ministers, commit violations that caused severe consequences. Two deputy prime minister have stepped down from their positions, while two ministers and several other officals are facing criminal charges. As he was well aware of his responsibilities, Phuc decided to resign from his positions and retire, the statement said.

Considering current Party and State’s regulations and his personal request, the Central Party Committee agreed to let Phuc resign from his state leader and Party positions, and as chairman of the Council for National Defence and Security, of the 2021-2026 term.

Phuc, 69, was a member of the Central Party Committee, the Politburo and the National Assembly for multiple terms.

From 1997 to 2006, he was the chairman of the Quang Nam Province People’s Committee.

He was appointed head of the Government Office in 2006 and deputy prime minister in 2011, before becoming the prime minister five years later.

He was voted president in April 2021.