Tenth National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam
Encyclopedia
The Tenth National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam was the tenth party congress
of the Communist Party of Vietnam
, the sole legal party of Vietnam
; it occurred between April 18 and April 25, 2006, in Ba Ðình Hall, Hanoi
. The party congress occurs once every five years. A total of 1,176 delegates representing 3 million party members attended the opening ceremony. The Congress elected a new Central Committee with 160 members and a Politburo
of 14 membershttp://222.255.31.179:8080/tiengviet/tulieuvankien/details.asp?topic=105&subtopic=211&leader_topic=505&id=BT2540635207.
The incumbent General Secretary Nông Đức Mạnh was elected to a second term. Phan Văn Khải and Trần Đức Lương, the Prime Minister
and President
, respectively, retired from their current positions. The Congress is notable for having generated considerable interest in Vietnam and occurs during a time when the government of Vietnam is caught in a major political corruption
scandal
.
At the same time, the PMU 18 corruption
scandal involving high-ranking officials was gripping Vietnam. The Minister of Transport had to resign and his deputy was arrested in a multimillion dollar gambling scandal. His resignation was mainly due to loud criticism from the media, which extensively covered the scandal (a rarity in the one-party state). Three people involved with the scandal (the aforementioned two and another) were removed from the list of delegates and General Võ Nguyên Giáp
publicly called on the Party to address this issue in the national congress.
Trần Đức Lương and Prime Minister
Phan Văn Khải did not appear in the list of Politburo members. Nguyễn Tấn Dũng, then the Deputy Prime Minister, was rumored to become the next Prime Minister while Nguyễn Minh Triết, the then City Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City
Communist Party, was rumored to become the next President. These appointments were approved by the National Assembly
in June 2006.
Party Congress
A party congress is a general conference of a political party. The congress is attended by delegates who represent the party membership. In most parties the party congress is the highest decision making body of the organisation and elects the party's leadership bodies such as the National Executive...
of the Communist Party of Vietnam
Communist Party of Vietnam
The Communist Party of Vietnam , formally established in 1930, is the governing party of the nation of Vietnam. It is today the only legal political party in that country. Describing itself as Marxist-Leninist, the CPV is the directing component of a broader group of organizations known as the...
, the sole legal party of Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
; it occurred between April 18 and April 25, 2006, in Ba Ðình Hall, Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
. The party congress occurs once every five years. A total of 1,176 delegates representing 3 million party members attended the opening ceremony. The Congress elected a new Central Committee with 160 members and a Politburo
Politburo
Politburo , literally "Political Bureau [of the Central Committee]," is the executive committee for a number of communist political parties.-Marxist-Leninist states:...
of 14 membershttp://222.255.31.179:8080/tiengviet/tulieuvankien/details.asp?topic=105&subtopic=211&leader_topic=505&id=BT2540635207.
The incumbent General Secretary Nông Đức Mạnh was elected to a second term. Phan Văn Khải and Trần Đức Lương, the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Vietnam
-Office:The Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is the head of the executive branch of the Vietnamese government. The Prime Minister presides over the Vietnamese cabinet, and is responsible for appointing and supervising ministers...
and President
President of Vietnam
The President of Vietnam is the head of state of Vietnam, although the functions of the President are often ceremonial...
, respectively, retired from their current positions. The Congress is notable for having generated considerable interest in Vietnam and occurs during a time when the government of Vietnam is caught in a major political corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
scandal
Political scandal
A political scandal is a kind of political corruption that is exposed and becomes a scandal, in which politicians or government officials are accused of engaging in various illegal, corrupt, or unethical practices...
.
Events leading to the Congress
On March 2, 2006, the leadership of the Communist party officially requested the Vietnamese people to comment on the Preliminary Party Report. Within one month, the Central Office of the Communist Party received more than 1,400 letters commenting on the report. Moreover, many people sent their comments to the media. Many newspapers opened discussion forums and published comments from intellectuals. Issues under consideration include calls for changing Article 4 of the Constitution, which gives the Communist Party a monopoly on power, and allowing party members to participate in capitalism.At the same time, the PMU 18 corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
scandal involving high-ranking officials was gripping Vietnam. The Minister of Transport had to resign and his deputy was arrested in a multimillion dollar gambling scandal. His resignation was mainly due to loud criticism from the media, which extensively covered the scandal (a rarity in the one-party state). Three people involved with the scandal (the aforementioned two and another) were removed from the list of delegates and General Võ Nguyên Giáp
Vo Nguyen Giap
Võ Nguyên Giáp is a retired Vietnamese officer in the Vietnam People’s Army and a politician. He was a principal commander in two wars: the First Indochina War and the Vietnam War...
publicly called on the Party to address this issue in the national congress.
Events during the Congress
Except for the opening and closing ceremonies, the Congress was closed to the public and the media. For the first time, the 1,176 delegates was allowed to recommend candidates for the post of General Secretary. As expected, PresidentPresident of Vietnam
The President of Vietnam is the head of state of Vietnam, although the functions of the President are often ceremonial...
Trần Đức Lương and Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Vietnam
-Office:The Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is the head of the executive branch of the Vietnamese government. The Prime Minister presides over the Vietnamese cabinet, and is responsible for appointing and supervising ministers...
Phan Văn Khải did not appear in the list of Politburo members. Nguyễn Tấn Dũng, then the Deputy Prime Minister, was rumored to become the next Prime Minister while Nguyễn Minh Triết, the then City Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
Communist Party, was rumored to become the next President. These appointments were approved by the National Assembly
National Assembly of Vietnam
The Constitution of Vietnam recognizes the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam as "the highest organ of state power." The National Assembly, a 493-member unicameral body elected to a five-year term, meets twice a year...
in June 2006.