Tô Lâm halves the number of Vietnamese provinces
Vietnam’s National Assembly voted a resolution in favour of an administrative reform that strengthens the power of the country’s current leadership, which emerged victorious from the “blazing furnace" anti-corruption campaign inside the party. The country of 101 million will be divided between 28 provinces and six centrally run cities.
Hanoi (AsiaNews) – Vietnam’s National Assembly approved a resolution to reorganise the country's provincial-level administration, starting 1 July. The decision was adopted by 461 votes out of 465 (four lawmakers were absent).
As of 12 June, the number of provinces will be reduced from 63 to 34 provincial level entities (six municipalities, i.e. centrally run cities and 28 provinces).
Under the changes provincial authorities have to set guidelines, boundaries and personnel of the new entities by 30 June, as well as rearrange and streamline local administrative agencies and units.
They will support and promptly address the challenges and concerns of officials, civil servants, public employees, and workers affected by the change, as well as protect the legitimate rights and interests of citizens and businesses, not to mention meet the requirements for socio-economic development, national defence, and security in each new province and municipalities.
The newly established leadership apparatuses of local Party and administrations will be essential.
The National Assembly is now expected to vote on the constitutional amendment that will abolish the existing three-level administrative structure (municipality, district and province) in favour of a two-level administration, eliminating the intermediate level.
Such a move has a dual purpose, namely streamlining the administrative apparatus while ensuring 8 per cent annual economic growth that the authorities deem possible and necessary to guarantee adequate incomes and opportunities for 101 million Vietnamese.
The reform, however, is also expected to clean up the country’s bureaucracy and boost the ongoing anti-corruption “blazing furnace” campaign, which has touched 200,000 people in various capacities, including major political figures who lost their job, or were tried and convicted. The latter include two former presidents and three former deputy prime ministers, plus scores of party officials and business people. At least 60,000 people have quit the government and party to avoid more drastic measures.
The aim is to eliminate deep-rooted nepotism and corruption, making the country more attractive to investors, and bring ordinary Vietnamese onboard with the government’s objectives.
Another goal is to avoid any situation that casts in a bad light the country’s leadership, whose prerogatives and ideological firmness have been strengthened, under the leadership of Tô Lâm, a former head of the security services who became general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam last year.
The reforms have, however, raised concerns about their possible effects on stability and employment.
It is estimated that the restructuring could make 250,000 people redundant, including 130,000 civil servants, while the others are largely local part-time government employees.
On the plus side, the government expects to save about US$ 7.3 billion dollars between 2026 and 2030.
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