Phạm Phú Quốc. — Photo courtesy of the National Assembly Press Office

HÀ NỘI — A lawmaker has been kicked out of the National Assembly (NA) for holding dual citizenship.

The NA on Tuesday adopted a resolution relieving Phạm Phú Quốc from his position as a deputy of HCM City’s NA delegation.

A total of 471 lawmakers present at the plenary session cast their votes, with 96.8 per cent approving of the dismissal.

Delivering the draft resolution, NA Secretary-General and Chairman of the NA Office Nguyễn Hạnh Phúc said Quốc’s dishonesty violated NA deputy standards, and he is no longer worthy of the trust of voters and people.

His violation of the national law forbidding dual citizenship was serious, causing a bad impact among public opinion and reducing his prestige.

Quốc, a native of the central province of Quảng Trị, admitted on August 25 that he had acquired Cypriot citizenship in 2018, but claimed it was due to his family's petition, not 'buying' the nationality as alleged in an Al Jazeera news report.

Al Jazeera had reported that Cyprus's passport scheme allows people who have invested at least US$2.5 million in the country to possess a 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. Quốc’s name was mentioned among the list of foreigners who possess a Cypriot passport.

After the case was uncovered, Quốc sent a letter to the HCM City administration, resigning from the National Assembly as well as the General Director of the state-owned Tân Thuận Industrial Promotion Company (IPC).  — VNS