Transport minister Nguyen Van The sets positive precedent
The resignation of Transport Minister Nguyen Van The is of positive significance as it can lay a foundation for the formation of a future practice: Individuals, in any position in the political system and government, can voluntarily resign when they feel they are no longer suited to their current work.
Precedent from minister
On October 21, 2022, the National Assembly, Vietnam’s legislative body, approved The’s resignation in line with his wish, drawing great public attention.
In fact, recently, many officials in state agencies or professional managers in public non-business units had voluntarily quit their jobs for varying reasons.
However, The’s resignation is a rare case and probably the first in Vietnam in three decades, seeing him voluntarily resign from a strategic-level leadership and management position without any discipline during his five-year term.
This event is of positive significance as it can lay a foundation for the formation of a future practice: Individuals, in any position in the political system and government, can voluntarily resign when they feel they are no longer suited to their current work.
Since the Doi moi (reform) process was launched in 1986, Vietnam has witnessed the voluntary resignation of some senior officials, including Agriculture Minister Le Huy Ngo in 2004; and Bach Ngoc Chien, Vice Chairman of Nam Dinh province, Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations in early 2020.
Both cases drew mixed public opinions since they were perceived as "strange" at the time. Compared to them, the case of Nguyen Van The drew more public attention because if he wanted, he could stay in office until the end of his term under the protection of the Constitution and law.
The’s resignation can be seen as the concretization of the Party's recent policy of encouraging cadres to resign when they realize that their prestige, virtue or capacity no longer meet job requirements. This policy was mentioned at the 4th plenums of the Party Central Committee, 12th and 13th tenures, and concretized in Regulation No. 41-QD/TW issued by the Party Central Committee on November 3, 2021, and most recently “Regulation No. 80-QD/TW on decentralization of cadre management, and appointment and nomination of candidates for leadership positions", dated August 18, 2022.
The public will surely recognize and pay certain respect to The because he dared to make a decision that is not common in Vietnam, in terms of both institutional and behavioral logic.
Overcoming constraints
In any society, any political system and any government, voluntarily leaving a public position is never an easy decision. The difficulty in making such a decision primarily stems from social constraints.
In Vietnam, striving to hold a leadership and management position in state agencies has become the lifelong career among many individuals. A high position in a public agency not only benefits individuals and their families, but can also help raise the honor, prestige and tradition of their families and clans, as well as localities where they were born.
Leaving the position without any serious mistakes means voluntarily receiving fewer benefits, creating disadvantages, or even ending their own future career. They may be subject to social criticism. Therefore, it is easy to understand why very few individuals dare to do it.
Looking at the characteristics of the political system in our country today, institutional constraints are also a factor that discourages individuals from voluntarily leaving their leadership and management positions.
"The collective plays a leadership role, the individual performs tasks" is a fundamental principle applied in the entire national governance system. All important decisions of a unit, at any level, are approved by its leadership. Because it is a collective decision, the responsibility first belongs to the leadership.
In fact, even when the Party recently emphasized the role of the top leader, it is difficult to consider the responsibility or assess the reputation of the head for violations or poor performance of the unit. Therefore, an ordinary leader will not be forced to resign or bear responsibility for all the consequences of the leadership’s weakness.
With the above-mentioned basic constraints, resigning from a current position is an act of honor, integrity, self-respect, and involves a high sense of self-discipline. When individuals like The were able to make the resignation decision, they would certainly have considered thoroughly and been brave enough to overcome psychological pressures, selfish interests, and social criticism.
Resignation practice
In a positive way, The has contributed to setting an example of integrity among a contingent of officials, civil servants and public employees. Normal people may never know exactly what motivated The to leave his ministerial position. Those interested in this case may not be satisfied that he resigned for personal reasons.
However, his choice is still commendable as in fact, very few individuals in the country dare to think about resignation, not to mention as a state official.
The’s act also aroused a sense of upholding common public values like self-respect, integrity, and honor among state officials. Without being forced by anyone, if individuals are always clearly aware of the above-mentioned public values, they can leave their position simply to hand over their tasks to more suitable persons.
In any way, resignation is not, and shouldn't be something too big. It should be considered an ordinary act whenever someone feels no longer suited to their job.
The's resignation also delivered a thoughtful message: not only leaders and managers but even the most ordinary cadre need to change their perception to voluntarily hand over their positions and jobs to others when they feel that they are no longer suited to their assigned tasks. Not trying to hold on to a position at any cost is also a way to show a sense of responsibility and contribute to the state and community.
* Nguyen Van Dang is a lecturer at Hanoi-based Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics
- Read More
Vietnam manufacturing sector sees 35% increase in Q3 job orders: Adecco
Vietnam’s manufacturing and sourcing sectors saw a substantial 35% year-on-year increase and a 52% quarter-on-quarter increase in Q3/2024 job orders, global workforce solutions provider Adecco said in a reseach report released Thursday.
Economy - Sun, November 3, 2024 | 9:00 am GMT+7
Construction majors to continue capitalizing on public investment projects
Vietnamese construction giants are expected to continue capitalizing on public investment projects for the remainder of this year after delivering strong performances in the third quarter, analysts say.
Companies - Sun, November 3, 2024 | 8:00 am GMT+7
Former Government Office chairman receives $7,900 bribe from property project
Mai Tien Dung, former Minister-Government Office Chairman, received a bribe worth VND200 million ($7,900) from Nguyen Cao Tri, owner of the Dai Ninh eco-resort and urban area project in Lam Dong province.
Society - Sat, November 2, 2024 | 9:13 pm GMT+7
Thai food giant CP enters public-private partnership to promote food system transformation
Thai-invested C.P. Vietnam Livestock JSC and the Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture Vietnam (PSAV) signed a memorandum of understanding Friday on working together to advance sustainable agriculture in the country.
Companies - Sat, November 2, 2024 | 7:16 pm GMT+7
Central Vietnam province Quang Ngai to begin work on new VSIP industrial park next year
Vietnam’s central province of Quang Ngai will work with the investor to have construction of VSIP II Quang Ngai, a facility based on the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) model, begin in August 2025.
Industrial real estate - Sat, November 2, 2024 | 3:47 pm GMT+7
Vietnam likely to grow 6.5% in 2024-2025: VinaCapital
VinaCapital, among the biggest foreign-run asset managers in Vietnam, has forecast the country’s economy to achieve 6.5% growth in both 2024 and 2025, with the composition of the expansion to change to more domestically driven factors next year.
Economy - Sat, November 2, 2024 | 2:00 pm GMT+7
Major Vietnamese developer Novaland appoints new CEO
Duong Van Bac, who joined Novaland as chief financial officer in August 2023, has been appointed general director, starting Friday.
Companies - Sat, November 2, 2024 | 10:24 am GMT+7
Vietnamese conglomerate Bamboo Capital posts 36-fold profit growth in Q3
Ho Chi Minh City-based Bamboo Capital Group recorded an after-tax profit of VND331.2 billion ($13.1 million) in the third quarter of 2024, an astounding 36-fold expansion year-on-year.
Southeast Asia - Sat, November 2, 2024 | 9:41 am GMT+7
ThaiBev to bag $54 mln from Sabeco’s upcoming dividend payout
Vietnam Beverage, wholly owned by Thai Beverage (ThaiBev) will rake in VND1,374 billion ($54.26 million) worth of dividend from Ho Chi Minh City-based top brewer Sabeco.
Companies - Sat, November 2, 2024 | 9:13 am GMT+7
Steel heavyweight Hoa Phat pours over $2 bln into central Vietnam complex
Leading Vietnamese steelmaker Hoa Phat had invested more than VND52.5 trillion ($2.08 billion) in its Dung Quat Iron and Steel Integrated Complex (Dung Quat 2) in the central province of Quang Ngai as of Q3/2024.
Industries - Sat, November 2, 2024 | 8:00 am GMT+7
Vietnam becomes Australia’s fastest-growing inbound market
The number of Vietnamese tourists to Australia has grown significantly after the Covid-19 pandemic, with nearly 178,000 reported in the 12 months to August 2024, according to a Friday press release by the Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism’s Office.
Southeast Asia - Fri, November 1, 2024 | 10:02 pm GMT+7
Study finds shift in Thai consumers’ spending patterns
Consumers in Thailand are shifting their spending focus to experiences and investments, according to the latest ASEAN Consumer Sentiment Study (ACSS) by United Overseas Bank (UOB).
Southeast Asia - Fri, November 1, 2024 | 10:00 pm GMT+7
Energy security, digitalization key to Indonesia's economic growth
The Indonesian government is prioritizing long-term economic growth through energy security, digitalization, and natural resource industrialization, according to Deputy Minister of Finance Thomas Djiwandono.
Southeast Asia - Fri, November 1, 2024 | 9:58 pm GMT+7
Vietnam PM's Middle East tour creates breakthroughs in economic, trade, investment cooperation: FM
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s freshly ended six-day trip to the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar has produced important outcomes, demonstrating the growing relations between Vietnam and the three Middle-East countries, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son told the Vietnam News Agency.
Politics - Fri, November 1, 2024 | 9:25 pm GMT+7
Vietnam, Qatar look to tap potential for energy, oil & gas collaboration
Vietnam and Qatar have recognized the significant potential for further collaboration in multiple sectors such as energy, oil and gas, especially LNG, agriculture, Halal industry, and banking.
Politics - Fri, November 1, 2024 | 9:02 pm GMT+7
Thailand bans export of raw palm oil until December
Thailand's Department of Internal Trade has temporarily banned the export of raw palm oil due to reduced production caused by drought and plant diseases.
Southeast Asia - Fri, November 1, 2024 | 8:31 pm GMT+7
- Infographics
-
Pakistani, Indian sugar bans won't affect Vietnam market: association
-
Wood pellet exports down but Japan buys more
-
Additional capital of FDI companies up 93% on-year
-
FDI capital expansion surges 66% in first half
-
Vietnam GDP grows 6.42% in six months
-
Disaster prevention efforts get a boost with Zalo mini-app: official