Former HCMC chairman receives Party warning

A warning was also issued to the Party Committee of the HCMC People’s Committee for the 2016-2021 term.

The decision to issue warnings was taken at a Friday afternoon meeting chaired by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, 16 days after the Central Inspection Committee recommended disciplinary action against Phong.

According to the Office of the Party Central Committee, after considering the request of the Central Inspection Committee, the Politburo concluded that the Party Committee of the HCMC People’s Committee for the 2016-2021 term had violated the principle of democratic centralism with irresponsible leadership and direction.

As a result, the HCMC People’s Committee as well as many organizations and individuals had violated Party regulations and the laws on financial management as well as state property, resulting in many wrongdoings.

Many party organizations and members have been disciplined; a number of officials and party members, including key leaders of the HCMC People’s Committee and a number of departments and branches have faced criminal charges.

Nguyen Thanh Phong, during his time as Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Secretary of the Party Personnel Committee and Chairman of the HCMC People’s Committee, has to take direct responsibility for violations and shortcomings of the Party Personnel Committee and the People’s Committee of HCMC for the 2016-2021 term; as also direct and personal responsibility for violations and shortcomings in the performance of assigned responsibilities and missions, the Politburo said.

It also assessed that the violations and shortcomings of the Party Committee of the HCMC People’s Committee for the 2016-2021 term “have caused very serious consequences.” It further said that Phong’s violations “have caused serious consequences that are difficult to overcome, causing great loss of state property.”

These violations have undermined public opinion and aroused anger among party members and people; adversely affected the reputation of the Party Committee, the government, socio-economic development of the city and Phong personally.

There are four levels of disciplinary actions for Party members: reprimand, warning, demotion and expulsion.

Phong, 60, is a native of the southern province of Ben Tre.

He holds a doctorate in economics and was a member of the Party Central Committee for many terms.

He was HCMC chairman from 2018 to August 2021, following which he was made Deputy Head of the Central Economic Commission.