Bold Vietnamese lawmaker, in rare public dissent, suggests it's time for PM to step down

HANOI, Vietnam – A bold Vietnamese lawmaker has suggested to the prime minister that it might be time for him to step down.

The rare show of public dissent in the one-party-ruled state came Wednesday in the national assembly.

Duong Trung Quoc told Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung it was "time to take responsibility, not just apologize" for the massive losses accrued by state-owned enterprises in recent years. He suggested that Dung lead a "resignation culture" in Vietnam.

A relaxed Dung responded by saying the Communist Party had assigned him the top job. Last month, the party's central committee met and chose not to sanction him.

Dung, in his second-term, has been under pressure largely because the economy has slowed down, but most analysts believe his position is safe.