Vietnam - Time to stand up and be counted

Plans to strengthen top officials’ accountability have moved a step forward

State President Truong Tan Sang last week inked Ordinance 30/2012/L-CTN trumpeting a resolution on holding votes of confidence for officials that hold positions elected or approved by the National Assembly or people’s councils.

Inked by the National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, this resolution was adopted on November 21, 2012 by the 13th top legislative body’s fourth session, with 95.1 per cent voting approval. Under the resolution, 49 officials will be subjected to the vote of confidence. Importantly, a thumbs-down from voters could result in officials being sacked.

Officials facing National Assembly voting scrutiny include the state president and vice president, the National Assembly chairman and deputies, the prime minister and deputies, ministers and other government members, plus judges of the People’s Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, people’s councils will conduct votes of confidence for people’s council’s chairmen and deputies, people’s committee’s chairmen and deputies and other people’s committee members.

“The vote of confidence shall be groundwork for firing officials who fail to win credibility from the National Assembly and people’s councils,” the resolution stated.

Such votes would be held annually, starting in the second year of officials’ term of office. For the 2011-2016, the first votes for confidence will be implemented at the National Assembly’s first session set for May, 2013.

Under the resolution, the votes for confidence will be conducted by secret ballots. The ballots would feature the full name and position of the person facing review, with three levels of evaluation including “high confidence,” “confidence” and “low confidence.” The results are to be announced soon after the voting.

Nguyen Dat | vir.com.vn

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