Vo Van Thuong Elected as President by the Vietnam Parliament

As part of a comprehensive anti-corruption campaign, Vo Van Thuong was elected by the National Assembly of Vietnam to be the new president of the nation.

Following the Communist Party’s nomination of 52-year-old Thuong on Wednesday for president, a largely ceremonial job but one of the top four political positions in the Southeast Asian country, MPs confirmed Thuong in a special session.

Thuong’s election on Thursday comes after his predecessor Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s abrupt departure in January, which was considered as a significant escalation of the nation’s “blazing furnace” anti-corruption drive. The party accused him for “violations and malfeasance” by officials under his authority.

Thuong declared in his inaugural address as president that he will “resolutely” carry on the fight against corruption.

Thuong said in a statement shown on state television of Vietnam, “I will be fully faithful to the fatherland, the people, and the constitution, seeking to fulfill the tasks entrusted by the party, the state, and the people.

Thuong is the youngest member of the party’s politburo, which is the highest decision-making body in the nation. He is regarded as a party veteran because he started his political career in communist youth organizations as a student.

He is well known for having strong ties to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, the most important person in Vietnam and the principal planner of the party’s campaign against corruption.

The anti-graft effort has paralyzed many ordinary transactions in Vietnam as authorities fear being involved in the crackdown, which has alarmed diplomats and entrepreneurs.

A diplomat living in Hanoi claimed that General Secretary Trong’s choice of Thuong was a significant move in the race to follow him considering that the 78-year-old leader might step down before the conclusion of his third term in 2026.

According to the web portal for the parliament, Thuong won with 98.38% of the vote.