In a unique precedent, the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam announced today, Tuesday, that President Nguyen Xuan Phuc will leave office, which he held for less than two years.

The official Vietnam News Agency reported that President Phuc submitted his resignation "after the party found him responsible for abuses and wrongdoings committed by many officials under his leadership."

"Knowing fully aware of his responsibilities to the Party and the people, he submitted a request to resign from the positions assigned to him, and quit his job," the agency quoted the powerful Central Committee of the Party as saying. ".

The four pillars are the secretary of the ruling Communist Party, the head of state, the prime minister, and the speaker of parliament, who officially lead the country, especially since there is no supreme ruler of the country.

Phuk, 68, served as the country's president for less than two years.

He also previously held the position of prime minister between 2016 and 2021, before assuming his position as president.

It was not immediately clear who would replace him.

"The CPC Central Committee held an extraordinary meeting in Hanoi on Tuesday to discuss the letter of resignation of Phuc, who was responsible for allowing a number of officials, including two deputy prime ministers and three ministers, to commit abuses that caused serious consequences," the official press release said.

But Phuk's resignation requires the approval of the National Assembly, which will hold a rare extraordinary meeting for this purpose this week.

Vietnamese observers speculated that Phuc would resign after the dismissal of the two deputy prime ministers earlier this month as part of an anti-corruption purge that led to the arrest of dozens of officials.

At least two former ministers and other officials also face criminal charges for crimes committed during the coronavirus pandemic.

Among these crimes is the case of the Vietnam Technology Company, which implicated many high-ranking officials in the country, including former Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long, and other prominent figures expelled by the ruling Communist Party.

Over the past year, more officials have been arrested in the case, and the number has reached 102 so far.

new style

Observers believe that these latest developments point to a new pattern in which the Communist Party of Vietnam holds leaders accountable for their abuses, while allowing them to resign with honor in order to protect the prestige of the party as a whole.

"This represents a turning point in the party's general secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's campaign against corruption, as the party is trying to create a so-called culture of resignation, whereby you are expected to resign when it is found that you have made a mistake or are responsible for a scandal that occurred in Your custody. Don't wait for the party to take action against you."

He points to what Truong recently said: "The CPC Central Committee should have a policy that encourages those who have made mistakes. If they voluntarily resign and hand in the corrupt payments, they will be treated kindly or even exempted from punishment. It is not good for everyone to be severely punished. Or remove them all from their posts.

He also sees this tone as "a major shift in the approach of the Communist Party of Vietnam. He points to the recognition that not all officials who have engaged in corrupt practices should be severely punished, and that it may be in the interest of the party and the state to allow those who willingly come forward to take responsibility for their actions to do so." without facing dire consequences.

This shift in policy illustrates the Communist Party of Vietnam's desire to take a more nuanced approach to tackling corruption within the party.

By being lenient with officials who willingly come forward and take responsibility for their actions, the party is sending a message that it is committed to rooting out corruption, while also recognizing that not all officials who engage in corrupt practices should be punished equally.

Ramifications

In contrast to the previous view, other analysts argue that in one-party Vietnam "any political changes are managed very carefully to give the impression of political stability and continuity".

And then they consider this unusual, and some consider it a power play for the Secretary-General of the Communist Party, Nguyen Phu Trong, whose term ends in 2026. Those who hold this view warn that President Phuc, who has just resigned, was the main candidate to replace him.

Phuc's resignation has major implications for Vietnamese politics and government.

One possible effect is the possibility of a power struggle within the Communist Party of Vietnam, and it is not clear who will replace Phuc as the new president.

Some suggest that party leader Nguyen Phu Trong will temporarily combine the positions of president and general secretary of the party, like Chinese President Xi Jinping in China, and this could lead to the consolidation of power within the party.

and more efficient decision-making within the Communist Party of Vietnam, but it may also lead to increased authoritarianism and weaker oversight of party power.

During his tenure as prime minister, Phuc was known for his policies and efforts to attract foreign investment to Vietnam.

He also supported measures to improve the country's infrastructure, build a modern legal system, promote a more open and sustainable economy and maintain the Party's grip on power while promoting economic development and improving the standard of living for Vietnamese citizens.

The announcement of Phuc's resignation comes at a time when Vietnam is facing a number of important economic and social challenges. Despite being one of the best performing economies in Southeast Asia in 2022, with a GDP growth of more than 8%, Vietnam is facing headwinds in the form of a recession. Potentially global and high cost of living.

Vietnam's foreign policy was also characterized by focusing on maintaining good relations with all countries, achieving balance in its relations with major powers, and promoting economic development through trade and foreign investment.

Fuk established good relations with the United States and other Western countries, and with his departure, the West may be keen to try to understand the new leadership and its policies.

Observers say Nguyen Phu Trong's anti-corruption campaign has made Vietnamese politics more interesting and unpredictable.

This makes it important to closely monitor developments in the coming months to understand the full implications of that crackdown on the country's domestic and foreign policies, as well as its political and economic future.

Understanding the changes and challenges you face but the Communist Party of Vietnam will remain the main decision-maker.