- New President elected after the sudden resignation of the previous President
- Thuong is believed to be close to Communist Party leader Trong
- Thuong said he would continue the crackdown on transplants
HANOI, March 2 (Portal) – Vietnam’s National Assembly on Thursday elected Vo Van Thuong as the country’s new president, in a reshuffle of the country’s top leadership amid a sweeping anti-graft campaign.
In an extraordinary session, lawmakers confirmed Thuong, 52, after the ruling Communist Party elected him president on Wednesday, a largely ceremonial role but one of the four most important political positions in the Southeast Asian nation.
Thuong’s election follows the sudden resignation in January of his predecessor Nguyen Xuan Phuc, whom the party blamed for “violations and misconduct” by officials under his control, in what was seen as a major escalation in the country’s anti-corruption fight.
In his first speech to parliament as the new president, Thuong said he would “resolutely” continue the fight against corruption.
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“I will be absolutely loyal to the motherland, the people and the constitution, and strive to fulfill the tasks assigned by the party, the state and the people,” Thuong said in a statement aired on Vietnam’s state television.
Thuong is the youngest member of the party’s Politburo, the country’s top decision-making body, and is considered a party veteran who began his political career at university in communist youth organizations.
He is widely regarded as a confidant of Secretary-General Nguyen Phu Trong, Vietnam’s most powerful figure and the main architect of the party’s fight against corruption.
“The kiln campaign will not cool down in the foreseeable future,” said Florian Feyerabend, representative of the German Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Vietnam.
Diplomats and businesspeople have raised concerns about the anti-graft campaign because it has paralyzed many routine transactions in Vietnam, as officials fear being implicated.
“PREVIEWABILITY RESTORED”
A Hanoi-based diplomat said Thuong’s election was an important step by Secretary-General Trong as he fought to succeed him, as the 78-year-old leader may step down before the end of his third term in 2026.
The general secretary is usually chosen from among the top leaders.
According to the parliament’s online portal, Thuong was elected with 98.38% of the vote.
Analysts and investors viewed the election as a sign of continuity in the country’s foreign and economic policy.
“There will be no major changes in Vietnam’s foreign policy after Thuong’s election,” said Le Hong Hiep, senior fellow and Vietnam expert at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore.
A Vietnam-based foreign investor, who asked not to be named, said the elections put an end to insecurity caused by the former president’s sudden sacking.
“It means that stability and predictability have been restored,” he said.
Vietnam is a major recipient of foreign investment, with business leaders often citing its political stability as a key reason for investment.
Reporting by Francesco Guarascio @fraguarascio, Khanh Vu and Phuong Nguyen, Editing by Ed Davies, Kanupriya Kapoor
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