Science minister chosen as Hà Nội's new leader

He will replace Nguyễn Đức Chung, who was suspended from duties on August 11 for 90 days pending an investigation into his suspected involvement in a number of criminal cases.

Hà Nội's leadership congratulates Science and Technology Minister Chu Ngọc Anh (fourth from left) on the election to the post of Chairman of Hà Nội People's Committee on Friday morning. — VNA/VNS Photo Văn Điệp

HÀ NỘI — Minister of Science and Technology Chu Ngọc Anh was elected as Chairman of the Hà Nội People’s Committee on Friday morning at a meeting of the city People’s Council.

He will replace Nguyễn Đức Chung, who was suspended from duties on August 11 for 90 days pending an investigation into his suspected involvement in a number of criminal cases.

At the meeting, Vice Chairman of the Hà Nội People’s Council, Nguyễn Ngọc Tuấn, read the report on dismissing Chung.

Every single People's Council delegate agreed with the report and passed a resolution confirming the dismissal of Chung.

On August 11, the Politburo suspended Chung from his position as deputy secretary of the capital's Party Committee.

He was also suspended from work as chairman of the Hà Nội People's Committee for 90 days on the same day.

Legal proceedings against him on charges of “illegally appropriating State secrets” under Article 337 of the 2015 Panel Code have been launched and Chung will be detained for four months.

The voting for the new chairman for the 2016-2021 term took place at the meeting and Anh was elected with 100 per cent of the delegates voting for him.

At present, Anh still holds the position of Minister of Science and Technology. It is expected that in November, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc will submit a proposal to the National Assembly to formally dismiss Anh’s from his position as the Minister of Science of Technology.

Speaking at the meeting this morning, Anh said he would strive to continue to improve his qualifications and cultivate his ethics and actively listen to the voices of people and businesses to lead.

Calling the election to the post of Hà Nội leader “a great honour but also a heavy responsibility,” he said he was committed to working with the municipal People’s Committee to serve the people.

Ngọc Anh, 55, was born in Thái Hoà Commune, Ba Vì District, Hà Nội City. He holds a PhD degree in physics from Hà Nội University of Science and Technology and has held various important positions in the Party and Government.

He was a lecturer of the Institute for Technical Physics under the Hà Nội University of Science and Technology in 1988, then in 2010, he took over his first major political position as Deputy Minister of Science and Technology.

In March 2013, he was designated Deputy Secretary of the Phú Thọ Provincial Party committee and two months later appointed Chairman of Phú Thọ Provincial People’s Committee.

He returned to the position of Deputy Minister of Science and Technology in September 2015 and was promoted to Minister of Science and Technology from April  2016. — VNS