Hanoi，January 18, 2023（AseanAll）– Vietnamese Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan is now acting president of Vietnam and will retain this position until the National Assembly elects a new president, the National Assembly Standing Committee said in a statement on Wednesday（January 18）.

According to the Vietnamese government website, on behalf of the NA Standing Committee on January 18, NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue signed the Notice on the exercise of the right of the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

The decision is made pursuant to the Constitution, the revised Law on Organization of the National Assembly, the Resolution of the 15th National Assembly dated January 18 at the 3rd Extraordinary Session, the Politburo conclusion on the assignment of a member of the Party Central Committee to hold the position of acting president of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam，according to the notice. 

Earlier in the day，the Vietnamese National Congress voted by secret ballot to remove Nguyen Xuan Phuc from the post of President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam for the term of 2021-2026 and terminate his qualification as a representative of the 15th National Congress.

Born on July 20, 1954, into a family with revolutionary tradition, Mr. Phuc was is a key leader of the Party and State. He received fundamental training, had a grassroots upbringing, and was assigned many important leading positions of the Party and State by different tenures of the Party Central Committee and Politburo.  

As the Prime Minister for the 2016-2021 tenure, Mr. Phuc made great efforts in leading, directing, and managing the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic which reaped important results.

However, he took the political responsibility when a number of subordinate officials committed violations and wrongdoings, causing serious consequences.

Aware of his responsibility before the Party and people, Mr. Phuc submitted his application to the National Assembly and the Vietnam Fatherland Front to step down from the positions of President of Vietnam, Chairman of the National Defense and Security Council, and deputy of the 15th National Assembly, quit his job, and retire.

The previous day, on January 17，the 13th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam convened a meeting to consider and give opinions to the wish to cease holding his positions, to stop working, and to retire by Nguyen Xuan Phuc, member of the Politburo, member of the 13th Party Central Committee, President of Vietnam, and Chairman of the Council of National Defence and Security for the 2021-2026 tenure.  At the meeting, the Party Central Committee agreed to Nguyen Xuan Phuc's resignation from the party and government.