Since 2014, Party committees and inspection committees at all levels have practiced the discipline of nearly 2,720 Party members who committed violations related to corruption and wilful misconduct. Since the 12th Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, nearly 1,300 Party members were disciplined for acts ofcorruption and wilful misconduct. Notably, 50 centrally-managed officials, including nine members or former members of the Party Central Committee, faceddisciplinary measures. Among them, a member of the Party Central Committee and former member of the Politburo was expelled from the Party.
From 2014 to present, through inspections, auditors have proposed to reclaim more than VND260 trillion for the State budget; and transferred more than 340 cases and 436 subjects to investigation agencies. From the beginning of the tenure, more than VND165 trillion and 12 hectares of land was reclaimed as a result of cases related to violations of economic laws and corruption; 194 cases and 335 subjects involving in corruption and violations of economic laws were investigated and brought to light.
According to Transparency International (TI), Vietnam ranks 107th among 180 countries and territories in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2017, an improvement from the two previous years. The country scored 35 points out of 100 on the CPI 2017, having scored 31 in 2015 and 33 in 2016. According to Towards Transparency (TT), the national contact of Transparency International in Vietnam, the increase of the country’s CPI score for two consecutive years is a positive sign for its anti-corruption efforts.
However many hot issues remain, requiring greater efforts in what is a long term, complicated and fierce fight. The number of cases of corruption discovered and handled has not reflected the true situation of corruption, especially the work of detecting and dealing with corruption at local levels. Self-inspection and self-detection of corruption within agencies, organisations and units are still limited and insufficient. According to a report by the Ministry of Public Security, in 2016, 11 provincial Police forces ofLang Son, Tuyen Quang, Yen Bai, Bac Can, Quang Ninh, Thanh Hoa, Binh Thuan, Soc Trang, Binh Duong, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, and Bac Lieu did not prosecute any new corruption cases. In 2017 the number had dropped to nine provinces including Tuyen Quang, Bac Can, Bac Ninh, Hai Duong, Thua Thien - Hue, Ninh Thuan, Dac Nong, Lam Dong and Bac Lieu. In 2017, there were only 16 cases and 21 subjects involved in corruption detected through self-inspections throughout the country.
According to a survey conducted by the National Assembly’s Justice Committee in six provinces and cities, only Long An province has detected corruption through its own internal inspections. Meanwhile, the work of inspecting and supervising the exercise of power by persons with positions has not been paid proper attention; and inspection and examination of personnel work remains limited. According to statistics from the Ministry of Home Affairs, from 2011 to 2017, there were only 59 inspections related to the appointment of cadres.
The aforementioned situation is due to the fact that at some levels of party committees, authorities, agencies and units, the political will for anti-corruption work is not high. Heads of some localities, organisations, units are not aware of the seriousness of the corruption situation in localities or in areas under their management.
The results of the fight against corruption have confirmed the consistency and high political will of the Party and State. A number of new and drastic solutions for Party building and rectification have been proposed and implemented whilst many resolutions and regulations have been thoroughly grasped and seriously implemented. General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam,Nguyen Phu Trong, affirmed at a national conference of the Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption that corruption prevention is an important work that needs to be conducted regularly, continuously, resolutely and patiently. All officials and Party members, especially leaders, should be exemplary, have high consensus on the will and actions in the fight against corruption, and not dare to lose prestige or suffer demerits. Political determination must be demonstrated by concrete action. Together with strict punishment of violations, it is necessary to have a mechanism to protect and encourage those who dare to think, do and take responsibility inleading the way in reform for the country’s development.
