The Communist Party of Vietnam has accepted the “resignation” of President Vo Van Thyang over unspecified “shortcomings” that show the extent of the cou-ntry’s political turmoil.
For international analysts, the situation risk undermining the confidence of foreign investors and the possibility of dialogue with various partners, including the Vatican. Major steps have been taken under the out-going head of state, including his recent invitation to Pope Francis to visit the country.
In a statement released, the government accused the president of violating the party’s rules, stressing that his “shortcomings had negatively impacted public opinion, affecting the reputation of the party, state and him per-sonally.” The party’s Central Committee, one of Vietnam’s top decision-making bodies, approved Thyang’s resignation not more than a year after his election. The Vietnamese president plays a largely ceremonial role, but remains one of the top four main political offices in the Southeast Asian country.