Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc has stepped down from office over personal request, the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported today [January 17].

Vietnam's President Nguyen Xuan Phuc. Photos: VNA

Phuc, who was also Chairman of the National Defense and Security Council for the 2021-26 term, resigned from the Politburo, the country’s most powerful body, and the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV)’s 13th Central Committee.

The resignation of the president who was elected in April 2021 was announced at a meeting of the CPV Central Committee held today. According to VNA, as Prime Minister for the 2016-2021 term, Phuc managed the fight against Covid-19, making significant contributions to the successful containment of the pandemic. But he bore the leader’s responsibility for having subordinates break the law and cause serious consequences. Two deputy prime ministers resigned from their positions while two ministers and dozens of senior officials were criminally punished.

“Being conscious of his obligations to the Party and the public, he submitted a resignation letter to leave office and request retirement,” reported VNA.

Earlier this month, deputy prime ministers Pham Binh Minh and Vu Duc Dam stood down of their own free will and they left the 13th Central Committee of the CPV at an extraordinary meeting. The CPV approved the resignation and the appointment of two new deputy prime ministers on the same day.

Overview of a meeting of the Communist Party of Vietnam's Central Committee on Jan 17.