Assembly to focus on corruption

Hanoi (AsiaNews/Afp) – A series of corruption scandals in the Vietnamese government and state sector has triggered concern within the Communist Party that its 30-year grip on power could be undermined, experts and officials say. Vietnam's National Assembly is expected to address the phenomenon during its month-long session which opens today.

"It would be a great surprise if the subject does not dominate the parliamentary session, especially after the series of scandals that have come to light" said a western diplomat. "There is no high-level meeting now without corruption being on the agenda".

Over the past year, the reputations of the government, the party and some of the country's most powerful state-controlled companies have been blackened by revelations of embezzlement and greed.

The most recent scandal has ensnared Mai Van Dau, the most senior of four deputy trade ministers, following revelations that bribes were accepted from companies to secure quotas for garment exports to the United States.

Four ministry officials, including his son, have been arrested so far, while Mr Dau himself has "temporarily stopped working", according to state media.

In June another scandal resulted in the resignation of agriculture minister Le Huy Ngo, while telecoms minister Do Trung Ta managed to stave off calls for his dismissal despite allegations of massive kickbacks.

PetroVietnam, the state-owned oil and gas giant, has also found itself in hot water. In May last year its general director and a deputy director were dismissed. State inspectors subsequently exposed rampant corruption in the group.

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• corruption
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