Vietnam Party agrees for president Nguyen Xuan Phuc to step down

The decision was made at an extraordinary meeting of the committee on Tuesday.

A statement released after the meeting said Phuc was a key leader of the Communist Party and the State. He was trusted and assigned to many important positions by the committee and the Politburo.

As the prime minister during the 2016-2021 period, Phuc made great efforts in leading, directing and administering the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic which gained important results.

However, as the leader, he was responsible for letting several officials, including two deputy prime ministers and three ministers, commit violations that caused severe consequences. Two deputy prime minister have stepped down from their positions, while two ministers and several other officials are facing criminal charges.

"As he was well aware of his responsibilities to the Party and the people, Phuc filed a request to resign from his positions and retire," the statement said.

Vietnam's Constitution 2013 stipulates that the president is the head of state, represents the country in internal and external affairs. The president is voted by the National Assembly among the assembly's deputies, and thus the assembly will perform procedures to dismiss Phuc as president.

Phuc, 69, was a member of the Central Party Committee, the Politburo and the National Assembly for multiple terms.

From 1997 to 2006, he was the chairman of the Quang Nam Province People's Committee.

He was appointed head of the Government Office in 2006 and deputy prime minister in 2011, before becoming the prime minister five years later.

He was voted president in April 2021.