Thayer Vo Van Thuong Resigns As Vietnam's President - 1
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Carlyle Alan ThayerThayer Vo Van Thuong Resigns As Vietnam's President - 1
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Carlyle Alan ThayerThayer Consultancy Background Brief:
ABN # 65 648 097 123
Vo Van Thuong Resigns as
Vietnam’s President – 1
March 20, 2024
The breaking news in Hanoi is that the Vietnam Communist Party Central Committee has
agreed on the resignation of President Vo Van Thuong just now. Could you provide an
assessment of this controversial development?
ANSWER: Vietnam has just witnessed the resignation of two state presidents within
two years. And the eighteen-member Politburo elected in 2021 has been reduced to
fourteen. This is unprecedented and indicates that Vietnam has much work to do to
ensure a smooth leadership transition at the next national party congress n early 2026.
According to the official media President Vo Van Thuong violated party regulations
and his flaws negatively affected public perception as well as the Party's reputation.
Therefore, the Central Committee accepted his resignation as president and from all
other positions in the government. Social media says Thuong's short comings occurred
12 years ago when he was party secretary of Quang Ngai province where there was a
bribery scandal by officials whom Thuong supervised. There is no explanation that
explains the timing of Thuong's resignation after such a long time.
The party Central Committee apparently did not recommend who would replace
Thuong. This means that the Vice President, Vo Thi Anh Xuan, will step up as acting
president. She is not a member of the Politburo, and it is unlikely she will serve out
the remaining term in office of 21 months. Therefore, the Central Committee will have
to meet again, likely at the regular session in May, to decide who among the president
Politburo will be president
But the matter doesn't end there. Will the new president serve out the remaining
term of office, which is 21 months, as a care taker? Or will the next president be
expected to remain in office after 2026 to serve out a full five-year term? Even if the
Central Committee decides on this course, it will have to be approved by the
delegates to the fourteenth national congress scheduled to meet in early 2026.
Vietnam needs to clarify and streamline its regulations to ensure a swift and orderly
transition in the future. The matter is pressing because Vietnam has just elevated four
countries as comprehensive strategic partners with the expectation that increased
trade and investment would boost Vietnam's development.
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Suggested citation: Carlyle A. Thayer, “Vo Van Thuong Resigns as Vietnam’s President
– 1,” Thayer Consultancy Background Brief, March 20, 2024. All background briefs are
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Thayer Consultancy provides political analysis of current regional security issues and
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