An extraordinary plenum of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV)’s Central Committee on the afternoon of June 6 led to the decision to expel Mr. Chu Ngoc Anh and Nguyen Thanh Long from the party because these two individuals committed “very serious” violations.”
Two Central Committee members Chu Ngoc Anh and Nguyen Thanh Long were accused of making mistakes related to the research, transfer, licensing, price negotiation, and procurement of Covid-19 test kits of Viet A Technology Joint Stock Company.
The announcement on the afternoon of June 6 said: “After considering the proposal of the Politburo, based on the content, nature, the extent of consequences, and causes of the violation, according to the Party’s regulations on disciplining party members, the Party Central Committee decided to implement the expulsion from the Party, Comrade Chu Ngoc Anh, and Comrade Nguyen Thanh Long.”
“Requesting functional agencies to urgently consider and handle administrative discipline in accordance with regulations for individuals who have been disciplined by the party.”
Extraordinary plenum
The Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam convened an extraordinary plenum of the Central Committee on the afternoon of June 6 to approve party discipline measures against two Mr. Chu Ngoc Anh and Nguyen Thanh Long.
Most of the members of the Party Central Committee are members of the National Assembly, and the National Assembly is holding currently meetings in Hanoi.
As for Mr. Nguyen Thanh Long, he is also a member of the National Assembly, so regarding the procedure, the steps to consider Mr. Long’s status as a National Assembly member will also be carried out soon after.
Commission of VND800 billion
Information that the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam has told the state press so far, says that Viet A company has paid “commissions” to “partners” with an amount of up to nearly VND800 billion ($35.9 million).
After being licensed by the Ministry of Health to register for circulation, Mr. Phan Quoc Viet (general director of Viet A Company) is said to have colluded with leaders of medical units to legitimize the bidding documents, and improve the bidding process and increase test kit prices.
This company has supplied test kits to the CDC and other medical facilities in 62 provinces and cities in Vietnam, with a revenue of nearly VND4 trillion.
Previously, the Politburo, headed by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, on June 4, concluded that the two Central Committee members Chu Ngoc Anh and Nguyen Thanh Long had “deteriorated in political thought, morality, lifestyle.”
The Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam requested the Party Central Committee to consider and discipline Chu Ngoc Anh and Nguyen Thanh Long.
BBC learned that the latest Communist Party discipline regulation is Regulation 22-QD/TW dated July 28, 2021, on Party inspection, supervision, and discipline (replacing Regulation 30-QD/TW dated July 28, 2021). July 26, 2016).
Accordingly, the Secretariat and the Politburo decide on forms of discipline for party members, including party members who are officials under the management of the Secretariat and the Politburo.
The Secretariat and the Politburo have the right to reprimand and warn members of the Central Committee (including members of the Secretariat and Politburo) for violations of their political, ideological, ethical, and moral qualities, party living and activities, performing party member duties.
But, especially, if they fall into the case of dismissal or expulsion, the Secretariat and the Politburo are not allowed to make decisions but are required to report to the Central Committee for consideration and decision.
Accordingly, the Central Executive Committee is the final disciplinary decision-making authority; decides on disciplinary measures for party members, including members of the Central Committee, Politburo members, and members of the Secretariat.
Thus, the proposal of the Politburo on June 4 showed that Mr. Chu Ngoc Anh and Nguyen Thanh Long had fallen into a situation where they could be dismissed or expelled, so it must be considered and decided by the Central Committee. determined.
How were two central commissioners violated?
The Politburo statement on June 4 said that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong chaired a meeting of the Politburo and the Secretariat to review and discipline the Party Personnel Committee of the Ministry of Science and Technology for the 2016-2021 term and the Party Committee of the Ministry of Health for the 2016-2021 term.
The Politburo held a meeting revolving around the Viet A case and the prevention of the Covid-19 epidemic.
At the meeting on June 4, the Secretariat decided to enforce discipline in the form of expulsion from the Party Pham Cong Tac, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology.
The Politburo made conclusions about two Mr. Chu Ngoc Anh, member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee, former Secretary of the Party Personnel Committee, former Minister of Science and Technology; and Nguyen Thanh Long, Member of the Party Central Committee, Minister of Health.
Comrades: Chu Ngoc Anh, Nguyen Thanh Long, and Pham Cong Tac have degraded in political ideology, morality, and lifestyle; violated the Party’s regulations and the State’s laws; violated the Regulation on the What Party members must not do, Regulations on the responsibility to set an example; cause very serious consequences, causing great loss and waste of the state budget; affecting the prevention and control of the Covid-19 epidemic; causing frustration in the community; adversely affect the reputation of the Party organization, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Health,” the statement said.
“The Politburo requested the Party Central Committee to consider and discipline comrades Chu Ngoc Anh and comrade Nguyen Thanh Long.”
Prolonged investigation
Regarding the Viet A case, the Communist Party of Vietnam announced on May 18 that it would discipline the health minister and the former minister of science and technology.
The Central Inspection Commission proposed the Politburo consider and discipline Mr. Chu Ngoc Anh, Chairman of Hanoi City and former Minister of Science and Technology.
The Central Inspection Commission also proposed the Politburo consider and discipline Mr. Nguyen Thanh Long, who is currently the Minister of Health.
At the Ministry of Health, Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Truong Son was warned, and Deputy Minister Do Xuan Tuyen was reprimanded.
At the Ministry of Science and Technology, Deputy Minister Pham Cong Tac was then warned and expelled from the Party on June 4.
Earlier in March, the Central Inspection Commission made conclusions criticizing many organizations and individuals in the professional assessment, inspection, and supervision; licensing, granting circulation registration numbers; Price negotiation, and procurement of Covid-19 test kits of Viet A Company.
Who is Mr. Chu Ngoc Anh?
Born on June 17, 1965, and joined the Communist Party in 1998, Mr. Chu Ngoc Anh was born in Thai Hoa commune, Ba Vi district, Hanoi city.
He is an alternative member of the Party Central Committee in the 11th term, and a member of the 12th and 13th terms, with the specialty of Doctor of Theoretical Physics, and Engineer of Solid State Physics.
From 1988 to 1995, Mr. Ngoc Anh worked as a Ph.D. student and then a lecturer at the Institute of Technical Physics, Hanoi University of Science and Technology.
He then worked at the Advanced Science and Technology Application Company (MITEC), the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment, and then transferred to the Postal Science and Technology Institute, the General Department of Post and Telecommunications.
From 1997 to 2003, he worked as Deputy Head of Department and then Head of Department of Post and Telecommunications Institute of Science and Technology, Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Corporation.
From 2003 to 2010, he worked as a Specialist and then Deputy Director of the High Technology Department; Director of the Department of Technology Application and Development, Ministry of Science and Technology.
He was promoted to Deputy Minister of Science and Technology for the period 2010-2013.
In 2011, at the 11th National Party Congress, he was elected as an alternate member of the Party Central Committee.
From March 2013 to September 2015, he was transferred to be Deputy Secretary of Phu Tho Provincial Party Committee.
After that, he returned to Hanoi, continuing to work as Deputy Minister of Science and Technology.
At the 12th National Party Congress in January 2016, he was elected a member of the 12th Central Committee for the 2016-2021 term.
He later became the Minister of Science and Technology.
On September 18, 2020, after Hanoi President Nguyen Duc Chung was disciplined, Mr. Ngoc Anh was transferred to the position of Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee cum Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee.
At the 13th National Party Congress in January 2021, he continued to join the 13th Party Central Committee for the 2021-2026 term.
Mr. Nguyen Thanh Long’s career
Mr. Nguyen Thanh Long was born on September 3, 1966, in Bach Long commune, Giao Thuy district, Nam Dinh province, and joined the Communist Party in 1999.
Mr. Thanh Long was conferred Professor, and holds a Doctor of Medicine degree.
From 1995 to 2003, he worked as a Specialist in the Preventive Medicine Department, Ministry of Health.
Then, from December 2003 to July 2005, he was the Head of the HIV/AIDS Control and Prevention Department, Department of Preventive Medicine and HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, Ministry of Health.
He was promoted to Deputy Director of the Vietnam Administration for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control in the 2005-2008 period.
From 2008 to December 2011, he was Director of the Department of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, Ministry of Health.
From December 2011 to October 2018, he held the position of Deputy Minister of Health.
After that, he was transferred to the position of Deputy Head of the Central Commission for Education and Propaganda from October 2018 to January 2020.
He returned as Permanent Deputy Minister of Health from the beginning of 2020 to July 2020.
He became Acting Minister of Health (July 7, 2020), and Chairman of the National Medical Council (October 16, 2020).
At the 13th National Congress in early 2021, he was elected a member of the Party Central Committee and continues to hold the position of Health Minister until now.
Thoibao.de (Translated)
