Vo Thi Anh Xuan appointed acting President of Vietnam

Vietnamese Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan has been appointed acting President again starting Thursday, as the parliament endorsed President Vo Van Thuong's resignation.

Xuan, born in 1970, will be in the position until the legislative body appoints a new president.

This is the second time in the 2021-2026 term that Xuan has been assigned to be acting President. In January 2023, she became acting President and held the position for more than a month, from the time the parliament dismissed President Nguyen Xuan Phuc until it elected Vo Van Thuong to take the position.

When Thuong was elected President in March 2023, Xuan returned to her previous post of Vice President.

The first female president of Vietnam was Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh, holding the position from September-October 2018 when Tran Dai Quang passed away in September 2018. Xuan is the country's second female president.

Vo Van Thuong’s resignation letter was approved by Vietnam's Party Central Committee on Wednesday. He was the youngest president of Vietnam and his tenure of just over a year was the shortest one.

A report by the Central Inspection Committee and relevant authorities stated that Thuong violated the regulations of the Party members' code of conduct and his responsibility to set a good example as a cadre and Party member, and first and foremost as a Politburo member, a member of the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee, and a Party Central Committee member. He should also be held responsible as a State leader, according to Party regulations and State laws.

"Vo Van Thuong's violations and shortcomings have caused bad public opinion, affecting the reputation of the Party, the State and himself. Clearly aware of his responsibility to the Party, State and the people, Thuong has submitted his resignation from all positions," the announcement stated.