News Desk
HANOI: Vietnam’s National Assembly nominated Vo Van Thuong as the new president of the country, in a reshuffle of the top leadership amid a sweeping anti-corruption crackdown.
In an extraordinary session, members of the Vietnamese parliament confirmed Thuong, 52, as the new president of the Southeast Asian nation, following his nomination on Wednesday by the ruling Communist Party. His election as president comes after the abrupt dismissal in January of Thuong’s predecessor Nguyen Xuan Phuc, who was blamed for “violations and wrongdoing” by officials under his control, in a move seen as a major escalation of the “blazing furnace” anti-corruption crackdown in Vietnam.
Thuong vows continuing fight against corruption
In his maidin speech to the parliament as new president, Thuong vowed to “resolutely” continue the fight against corruption.
“I will remain absolutely loyal to the fatherland, the masses and the constitution, and will to fight and fulfill the tasks that the party, the state and the people assign me,” Thuong said in a statement broadcasted by state television.
Despite being the youngest member of the party’s Politburo, Vietnam’s top decision-making body, Thuong is considered a veteran of the party as he began his political career at university in communist youth organizations.
He is considered as being close to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, the most powerful figure in Vietnam and the main architect of the anti-graft drive.
Thuong was elected as president with 98.38% of the votes, as per the parliament’s online portal. Despited being a largely ceremonial role, Vietnam’s President is one of the top four political positions in the country.
