Vietnam removes two deputy PMs amid anti-corruption drive

Vietnam’s National Assembly, the country’s lawmaking body, on Thursday voted to dismiss two deputy prime ministers from their posts, a government statement said, in what analysts suspect is a new escalation in the country’s anti-corruption crackdown.
There was no explanation of parliament’s decision to remove Pham Binh Minh and Vu Duc Dam, but the move comes at a time when the communist-ruled country is intensifying its fight against graft, despite concerns the campaign is paralysing routine transactions as officials fear being entangled in probes.
The men have not been arrested and no charges have been filed against them.
The parliament also ratified the appointment of environment minister, Tran Hong Ha, and the party chief of Haiphong City, Tran Luu Quang, as the two new deputy prime ministers.
If the dismissals are linked to the anti-corruption drive, they would be the most senior officials targeted so far.