“The fight against corruption should last long and persistence and patience is needed,” the Party chief emphasized.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong speaks at a meeting with voters in Hanoi on October 8. Photo: Zing.vn

The crackdown on corruption in Vietnam has brought about encouraging results but leaves much to be desired and will be a long-lasting battle, General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong said Monday.

Many corruption cases have been brought to the day light and well-handled over the past five years in contrast to several cases being forgotten before, the Party chief said at a meeting with voters in Hanoi after a five-day plenum of the Party’s Central Committee.

He noted that investigating corruption cases is a complex process to ensure legal procedures and make the investigation results convincing to even corrupt officials. Trails can last several years as infringements are interconnected.

The highest profile fallen star is Dinh La Thang, who has been sentenced to a combined 31 years in jail in two separate cases for his wrongdoings while chairing the state-owned energy giant PetroVietnam. Thang rapidly became a Politburo member in January 2016 after steering the Ministry of Transport for five years.

Nguyen Bac Son, former minister of information and communications, was removed from his status as Central Committee member last week for his key role in the deal of MobiFone acquiring a 95% stake in ailing TV pay service provider AVG at a cost of nearly VND9 trillion dong (US$384 million). He is likely to face criminal prosecution, according to Trong.

“The fight against corruption should last long and persistence and patience is needed. This battle will be long-lasting,” Trong emphasized.

Economist Nguyen Tri Hieu and Nguyen Hoang Hai, vice chairman of the Vietnam Association of Financial Investors have told Hanoitimes that the anti-corruption campaigned should be stepped up as it will enhance investor sentiment and resulting in a more transparent business environment.

“Not unification of the highest leadership positions”

The head of the Party has been nominated by the highest officials for the president post, which has been left vacant and temporarily assumed by Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh after President Tran Dai Quang passed away on September 21 after a serious illness.

Regarding this issue, Trong noted that this is a situational solution given the unexpected passing of President Quang. The nomination was debated thoroughly at the recently-concluded Central Committee plenum.

The General Secretary and President posts “are two different institutions and should not be considered which role is principal or secondary. It should not either considered the unification of the highest leadership positions,” he said.

The nomination will be subjected to a vote at a National Assembly sitting which commence on October 22.

Hanoitimes