Three top leaders step down
Today, the president, prime minister and chairman of the National Assembly submitted their resignations. Their successors should be announced next week. The decision is the first step towards an "expected re-shuffle" in the nation's leadership.
Hanoi (AsiaNews/Agencies) Vietnam's head of state, prime minister and chairman of the National Assembly today submitted their resignations to parliament, the first step towards an anticipated re-shuffle in the top echelons of the Communist country, to pave the way for a new generation of leaders.
A spokesman for the National Assembly said: "Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, 72, President Tran Duc Luong, 69, and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Van An, 68, have, one after the other, submitted their letters of resignation." Between today and Monday, 496 Vietnamese MPs will vote whether or not they accept the resignations. Anonymous government sources said more ministers will leave their respective posts in the coming week, including those holding the Defence, Foreign Affairs and Transport portfolios.
The changing of the guard has been in the pipeline since April, when the three leaders were not re-elected to the Politburo, the highest body within the Vietnamese Communist Party (PCV) that has led the country since 1975. Officially their mandate runs out in July 2007. The names of those who will take up the three important public posts should be officially announced next week on the recommendation of the PCV.
Last month, at the opening of the National Assembly session, Khai said he had nominated the deputy Prime Minister, 56-year-old Nguyen Tan Dung ex-central bank governor as his successor. Party officials said Nguyen Minh Triet, 64, currently party secretary for Ho Chi Minh City, is the favourite for head of state. Nguyen Phu Trong, 62, now the head of the PCV Hanoi committee, is poised to become the National Assembly chairman.
.png)
