Nguyen Xuan Phuc resigns as Vietnamese President

His resignation comes following his own personal request.

Nguyen Xuan Phuc is a key leader of the Party and State, born into a family with revolutionary traditions. He received basic training, started his career from the grassroots, and was assigned by the Central Party Committee and the Politburo to hold many important leadership positions of the Party and State.

Serving as Prime Minister during the 2016 to 2021 period, Phuc made great efforts in directing and administering COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control, achieving important results in the process.

However, as leader he was responsible for letting several officials, including two Deputy Prime Ministers and three ministers, commit violations that caused severe consequences. Two Deputy PMs have since stepped down from their positions, while two ministers and several other officials are facing criminal charges. As he was well aware of his responsibilities, Phuc decided to resign from his positions and retire, according to a statement released following the extraordinary meeting held by the committee on the same day.

In pursuant to the current regulations of the Party and State, and in consideration of Phuc’s wish, the Party Central Committee agreed to let him cease holding the positions of member of the Politburo and the Party Central Committee in the 13th tenure, President of Vietnam, and Chairman of the National Defence and Security Council for the 2021 to 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 served as chairman of the Quang Nam Province People's Committee.

He was appointed head of the Government Office in 2006 and Deputy PM in 2011, going on to become the Prime Minister for the 2016 to 2021 term. Phuc was voted President in April, 2021.