Pham Phu Quoc relieved from position as 14th-tenure NA deputy

Hanoi (VNA) – The National Assembly (NA) on November 3 adopted a resolution relieving Pham Phu Quoc from his position as deputy of Ho Chi Minh City’s NA delegation due to his dishonesty in declaring his profile.

Delivering the draft resolution, NA Secretary General and Chairman of the NA Office Nguyen Hanh Phuc said that Quoc’s dishonesty violates NA deputy standards, and he is no longer worthy of the trust of voters and people.

His violation is serious, thus causing bad impact among public opinion and reducing his prestige.

Quoc, a native of the central province of Quang Tri, admitted on August 25 that he had acquired Cypriot citizenship in 2018, but it was due to his family's petition, not him 'buying' the nationality as reported by Qatar’s Al Jazeera.

Al Jazeera had reported that Cyprus's passport scheme allows people who have invested at least 2.5 million USD in the country to possess its passport, making individuals eligible to become EU citizens and travel and work freely in EU nations, as well as enter 174 countries without a visa. Quoc's name was mentioned among the list of foreigners who possess a Cypriot passport.

After the case was uncovered, Quoc sent a letter to the HCM City administration, resigning from the position of a National Assembly deputy of the city as well as the General Director of the state-owned Tan Thuan Industrial Promotion Company (IPC)./.