Vietnam Parliament Elects Vo Van Thuong as New President
2023-03-03
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1Vietnam's National Assembly on Thursday elected Vo Van Thuong as the country's new president.
2The country is changing its top leadership as it continues its anti-corruption campaign.
3In an extraordinary session, lawmakers confirmed the 52-year-old Thuong as president after the ruling Communist Party nominated him on Wednesday.
4The president in Vietnam is largely a ceremonial job.
5But it is one of the nation's top four political positions.
6Thuong's election follows the sudden resignation of previous president Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
7Phuc stepped down in January.
8The party blamed him for "violations and wrongdoing" by officials under his control.
9His resignation was seen as a major escalation of the country's anti-corruption crackdown.
10In his first speech to the parliament as new president, Thuong said he will "resolutely" continue the fight against corruption.
11"I will be ... loyal to the fatherland, the people and the constitution, striving to fulfill the tasks assigned by the party, the state and the people," Thuong said in a statement on Vietnam's state television.
12Thuong is the youngest member of the party's Politburo, the country's top decision-making body. He is considered an established member of the party.
13He began his political career as a college student in communist youth groups.
14He is widely thought to have a close relationship with General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Vietnam's most powerful leader.
15Trong is the main official behind the party's battle against corruption.
16The anti-corruption campaign "will not cool down in the foreseeable future," said Florian Feyerabend.
17He is the representative in Vietnam for Germany's Konrad Adenauer Foundation.
18Diplomats and businesspeople have raised concerns about the anti-corruption campaign because it has limited many normal deals in Vietnam.
19And officials fear being caught up in the crackdown.
20A Hanoi-based diplomat told Reuters that Thuong's election was a major step by General Secretary Trong in the competition to succeed him.
21The 78-year-old leader may step down before the end of his third term in 2026.
22Thuong was elected with 98.38 percent of the votes, the parliament's website says.
23I'm Dan Novak.
1Vietnam's National Assembly on Thursday elected Vo Van Thuong as the country's new president. 2The country is changing its top leadership as it continues its anti-corruption campaign. 3In an extraordinary session, lawmakers confirmed the 52-year-old Thuong as president after the ruling Communist Party nominated him on Wednesday. The president in Vietnam is largely a ceremonial job. But it is one of the nation's top four political positions. 4Thuong's election follows the sudden resignation of previous president Nguyen Xuan Phuc. Phuc stepped down in January. The party blamed him for "violations and wrongdoing" by officials under his control. His resignation was seen as a major escalation of the country's anti-corruption crackdown. 5In his first speech to the parliament as new president, Thuong said he will "resolutely" continue the fight against corruption. 6"I will be ... loyal to the fatherland, the people and the constitution, striving to fulfill the tasks assigned by the party, the state and the people," Thuong said in a statement on Vietnam's state television. 7Thuong is the youngest member of the party's Politburo, the country's top decision-making body. He is considered an established member of the party. He began his political career as a college student in communist youth groups. 8He is widely thought to have a close relationship with General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Vietnam's most powerful leader. Trong is the main official behind the party's battle against corruption. 9The anti-corruption campaign "will not cool down in the foreseeable future," said Florian Feyerabend. He is the representative in Vietnam for Germany's Konrad Adenauer Foundation. 10Diplomats and businesspeople have raised concerns about the anti-corruption campaign because it has limited many normal deals in Vietnam. And officials fear being caught up in the crackdown. 11A Hanoi-based diplomat told Reuters that Thuong's election was a major step by General Secretary Trong in the competition to succeed him. The 78-year-old leader may step down before the end of his third term in 2026. 12Thuong was elected with 98.38 percent of the votes, the parliament's website says. 13I'm Dan Novak. 14Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by Reuters. 15______________________________________________________ 16Words in This Story 17resolute - adj. very determined 18strive - v. to try very hard to do or achieve something 19fulfill - v. to do what is required by 20foresee - v. to see or become aware of