At a meeting in Hanoi on January 17, the 13th Party Central Committee approved State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s proposal to resign from all positions and retire, according to a report from the Vietnam News Agency.

President Phuc is a member of the Politburo and the 13th Party Central Committee, and Chairman of the Council of National Defense and Security for the 2021-2026 term.

As President during the 2016-2021 term, he made great efforts in managing and directing Covid-19 prevention and control tasks, helping to gain important results.

However, he took political responsibility as leader for many officials, including two Deputy Prime Ministers and three ministers, committing violations and wrongdoings causing serious consequences. The two Deputy Prime Ministers asked to resign while the three ministers and many other officials face criminal sanctions.

Aware of his responsibility for such matters, President Phuc submitted his proposal to resign and retire.

Based on current regulations of the Party and the State and the aspirations of President Phuc, the Party Central Committee agreed to allow him to step down from his positions as a member of the Politburo and the 13th Party Central Committee and Chairman of the Council of National Defense and Security in the 2021-2026 term.