The Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) has proposed a new name for the post of President of Vietnam. The proposal was made in the extraordinary meeting of the 13th Central Committee of the CPV held on March 1. The Communist Party makes it clear through this unusual proposal that it will not make peace with corruption in any way. The CPV has nominated 52-year-old Vo Van Thuong as the country’s next president. Thuong is the youngest of 16 members of the Politburo, the highest decision-making body in the country. Thuong, who is closely related to CPV General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, is also the secretary of the Central Committee. All of these are the country’s top spots for Vietnam. From here he becomes the President of the country. Thuong’s nomination must be approved by the National Assembly. Although this happened in the extraordinary meeting of March 2, the formal meeting in May should also be approved. A session of the National Assembly formally convenes to elect the President for the term 2021–26. According to the 2013 Constitution, the President is the head of state and the person who represents the country in internal and external affairs. The Constitution stipulates that the President should be elected from among the members of the Assembly. The party nominated its presidential candidate weeks after the resignation of former president Nguyen Shuang Phuc.
Phuc resigned on January 17. The Central Committee allowed him to step down as Politburo member, Vietnamese president, council chairman and chairman of the National Defense and Security Committee for 2021–26 as requested in the letter. The next day, the National Assembly met and removed him from office and appointed current Vice President Vo Thien Suan as interim president. The 69-year-old Phuc stepped down after nearly two years as head of state. Phuc had said that several high-ranking officials, including two deputy prime ministers and three ministers, allowed violations during the Covid-19 period that had serious consequences and that he was responsible for that. Deputy Prime Ministers Pham Binh Minh and Vu Duc Dam were removed in an extraordinary meeting of the National Assembly held on January 5. Two former ministers, Nguyen Tan Long and Chu Gok An, were also cleared for their involvement in the Covid test kit scam. Thuong was nominated as party president as part of the party’s decision to bring in a new generation of representatives as 78-year-old General Secretary Throng steps down in 2026 after completing his third term. One of the top leaders is often chosen as general secretary, and this is to ensure that Throng, who is re-elected for a third term in 2021, has an acceptable successor.
Also Read: US rejects Cuban gains through embargo
Afghan universities in decline
A Taliban ban on women in higher education institutions in Afghanistan following the hijab scandal has brought universities to the brink of collapse. Private universities in the country have lost their prestige and are on the verge of closure, according to reports. At least 30–35 universities are facing financial crisis. University owners have warned that many educational institutions will have to be closed if girls are not allowed to pursue higher studies. Azizullah Aamir, founder of Mora, an educational center for women, says there is no male student in his institution. He says the institution will be forced to close down if the Taliban’s order continues to be strictly enforced. The deputy head of Afghanistan’s Dawat University is quoted in news reports as saying that universities have stopped admitting women, but the closure is expected to be temporary.
He also shared the hope that universities would reopen soon for girl students to continue their education. A Taliban-appointed spokesperson for the Ministry of Higher Education has also stated that efforts are being made to resolve the issues. He informed that we are trying to relax our principles and continue to provide services to the universities and resolve the issues that are creating bottlenecks. Earlier in December, Afghanistan’s minister of higher education, appointed by the Taliban, said he had no objection to banning women from university education. This was at a time when there was strong criticism from many corners of the world on the issue. But male students came forward to express their anger and protest against the measures that banned women from higher education. Their main slogan was either education for all or none. No one agrees that the ban on university students in Afghanistan is based on Islamic law. Both Muslims and non-Muslims are unwilling to believe the propaganda that Islam does not allow women to pursue higher education. They firmly believe that Islam does not condone such prohibition as Islam guarantees equal legal rights to men and women.
Also Read: Dravidarashmi of October Sun
Students protest in Ecuador for president’s resignation
Students in Ecuador are protesting to demand the resignation of President Guillermo Laso. The students started the protest against the backdrop of allegations of corruption and drug trafficking against the Lasso government. Investigations into corruption and drug smuggling are ongoing. Students demonstrated in front of the Central University of Ecuador (UCE) as part of the protest. The protest is being led by the Federation of University Students of Ecuador (FEUE). The main demand of the students is either Laso’s resignation or constitutional steps to oust him. Carrying red sticks and placards, students protested in front of the UCE with the slogan ‘Lasso out’. FEUE leader Neri Padilla said the Lasao government does not even allocate a basic budget allocation for public education.
He also accused that the budget allocation for skill training has been cut. Pointing out that the current President Laso is involved in illegal activities, Padilla announced that the government has to pay one million dollars to the Central University and 5 million dollars to the University of Guayaquil. Corruption in public institutions and the Lasso government’s ties to organized crime are being investigated. The report in this regard will be examined by the multi-party commission of the National Assembly and will be submitted for consideration by the House. The members of the National Assembly can propose to initiate the constitutional process of ouster (impeachment) of Guillermo Lasso if it becomes clear that he is involved in crimes against the security of the country.