Vietnam cracks down on nepotism in politics

Truong Thi Mai, Permanent Member of the Secretariat, has recently represented the Politburo and signed a decision on power management and corruption prevention.

In the decision, the Politburo has demanded that people with family relations must not simultaneously assume leadership positions in standing executive committees, Party staff committees and leadership boards, among others.

People with family relations also cannot simultaneously be the top leaders in 13 fields, including banking, finance, tax, military, public security and procuracy, among others.

If there are no other suitable candidates, and those with family relations have high credibility to assume the position, then it must be reported and approved by those from higher levels before such a position could be assumed.

Those with family relations are defined as one’s spouses, parents, children (including adoptive children), siblings, as well as similar family members of one’s spouses.

Nguyen Anh Dung (R) is appointed chairman of the Vietnam National Chemical Group in 2012. He later appointed a family member into a leadership position of a member company but his appointment was dismissed by the trade ministry. Photo by VnExpress

In accordance with Vietnamese regulations, family members or acquaintances abusing their powers and positions to interfere with or manipulate the processes of staff selection is considered abuse of power. Government workers and officials in violation of such regulations may face consequences, including the possibility of dismissal, expulsion from the Party or an end to one’s labor contract.

Back in 2017, Nguyen Anh Dung, when he was the chairman of the Vietnam National Chemical Group, had installed a family member into a leadership position of a member company, and the Ministry of Industry and Trade requested the decision be dismissed.