• Thuong, 53, has the shortest tenure in the role, following his predecessor Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s resignation after only two years.
• The resignation is expected at the next party congress in 2026 due to Thuong’s poor health and nearing 80 years of age.
• The timing of the resignation is attributed to a scandal that occurred 12 years ago.

Following a meeting of the ruling Communist Party on Wednesday, the government announced that it had violated party rules and tarnished its reputation. In a nation recognized for its political stability, upheld strictly by the party, a president has been compelled to resign for the second time in slightly over a year.

At 53 years old, Vo Van Thuong became the youngest person ever to hold the position. With today’s confirmation of his resignation by the national assembly, he also holds the record for the shortest tenure. Last year, his predecessor Nguyen Xuan Phuc resigned after only two years in the role. Both men faced scrutiny due to their connection with corruption scandals.

The explanation given by the government does not reveal much about the reasons. It states only that President Thuong “violated party rules, and that he had shortcomings which affected public opinion and the reputation of the party, state and himself”.

However, assumptions suggest that he resigned due to fraud and bribery allegations against officials and property business in the province of Quang Ngai, where he previously served as the local party boss. Although the case dates back more than a decade, the police are currently investigating, prompting suspicions of potential political motives behind the probe.

Vietnam’s unusual collective leadership structure shares authority among four positions at the top: president, prime minister, communist party secretary-general, and chair of the national assembly.

While the position of party secretary-general holds the most power, the presidency, although largely ceremonial, is viewed as a typical progression toward assuming the role of party boss. Vo Van Thuong, a protégé of the current party boss Nguyen Phu Trong, who has held the position for 13 years, an unusually lengthy tenure, is anticipated to step down at the next party congress in 2026 due to his poor health and nearing 80 years of age.

“The key here is the timing of dredging up a scandal that took place 12 years ago,” says Carl Thayer, Emeritus Professor of Politics at the University of New South Wales.

“This has the fingerprints of the Ministry of Public Security and [its minister] To Lam. There were social media reports that when Nguyen Xuan Phuc was forced to resign as state president, To Lam stood against Thuong and lost the vote. Trong’s hand is now weakened with the demise of Thuong. If Trong wants to preserve his legacy of anti-corruption and party-building he will have to horse trade with the various factions.”

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