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The ruling party claims that Mr. Tuong’s “shortcomings” have negatively affected the reputation of the party and the country.
Vietnam’s President Bo Van Thuong has resigned after just over a year in office, citing “violations” and “deficiencies”, the ruling Communist Party announced.
Tuong is the second president in two years to resign amid a crackdown on corruption that has seen several senior politicians fired and top business leaders on trial for fraud and corruption.
Vietnam’s Communist Party said in a statement on Wednesday that the resignation had been accepted and that “Vo Van Tuong’s violations and deficiencies have left a negative stain on the reputation of the Communist Party.”
The government statement did not detail Mr. Tuong’s shortcomings, but they are likely related to the “Burning Furnace” anti-bribery campaign aimed at combating rampant corruption.
Foreign investors and diplomats have repeatedly accused the campaign of slowing decision-making in a country already struggling with massive bureaucracy.
Although the president has a primarily ceremonial role, he is one of the top four political positions in the Southeast Asian country.
Tuong’s resignation came after weeks of rumors suggesting he would be removed from office, and on the eve of a special session of Vietnam’s parliament dedicated to “personnel matters.”
Days earlier, Vietnamese police announced that they had arrested the former head of Quang Ngai province in central Vietnam on corruption charges from 10 years ago, when he served in the ministry when Tuong was the province’s party leader.
He was also a party official in Ho Chi Minh City, which was hit by a multibillion-dollar financial fraud and is currently undergoing a major trial.
Thuong was appointed as his successor a month and a half after former President Nguyen Xuan Phuc resigned last year after the party accused him of “violations and misconduct” by his subordinate officials.
When he took office, Tuong said he was “determined to fight corruption” and was considered close to Party Secretary-General Nguyen Phu Trong, considered the most powerful man in the country.
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