Nguyen Xuan Phuc's sudden departure is a highly unusual move in communist Vietnam, where political changes are normally carefully orchestrated, with an emphasis on cautious stability.
Earlier this month, the country's rubber-stamp National Assembly removed Pham Binh Minh and Vu Duc Dam from their positions as deputy prime ministers.
Thirty-seven people — many of them senior diplomats and police — have also been arrested in an investigation over the repatriation of Vietnamese during the pandemic.After closing its borders to slow the spread of coronavirus, Vietnam organised nearly 800 charter flights to bring citizens home from 60 countries and territories.
Mr Phuc, 68, was elevated to the largely ceremonial role of president in April 2021 after winning plaudits forBut a huge outbreak swept through business hub Ho Chi Minh City in mid-2021 and spread across the country. The scam is estimated to have netted some $US172 million for Viet A — $US34 million of which was allegedly ploughed straight back into the further bribing of officials.Apart from the sacking of the two deputy prime ministers earlier this month over alleged wrongdoing, Viet-A's director-general Phan Quoc Viet, as well as health minister Nguyen Thanh Long and Hanoi mayor Chu Ngoc Anh, have been arrested in connection with bribery.
Communist Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong, the architect of what is Vietnam's largest-ever anti-corruption drive, is due to step down in 2026.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Vietnam president quits amid anti-corruption driveNguyen Xuan Phuc has ‘submitted resignation from assigned positions, quit job and retired’, say reports
Read more »
Vietnamese president resigns, criticised for major scandalsVietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc has resigned, becoming the most senior member of the government to step down after a series of high-profile corruption scandals for which he was held responsible.
Read more »
‘People aren’t taking this seriously’: experts say US Covid surge is big riskFewer precautions, recent holidays and subvariants have driven rise in cases but boosters, masks and other precautions are still effective
Read more »
China braces for Covid surge as lunar new year travel rush beginsTravellers leave cities for countryside amid warnings for most vulnerable and huge increase in official coronavirus death toll
Read more »
JB Hi-Fi posts record first half sales and earningsCEO Terry Smart says trading conditions started to normalise during the half year after years of COVID-19 disruptions.
Read more »