Corruption is a common problem in countries around the world, not just in Vietnam. However, in other countries where supervision and regulation of power are highly valued, corruption has been significantly limited.
Since the Economic Renovation (1986), when Vietnam shifted from a centralized economy following the Soviet model to a “socialist-oriented” market economy.
However, with this hybrid economic model, it is still greatly influenced by the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and its government. This is the reason, which has created opportunities for “money-power” crony relationships between officials and interest groups to exist and develop very quickly.
In the past, when officials joined hands with private enterprises to embezzle state assets, they only gained a few billion VND. Up to now, the level of corruption has reached its peak with a value of tens, even hundreds of billions.
Hoang Thi Thuy Lan, when she was Secretary of Vinh Phuc provincial Party Committee, only needed to say “I have something to do” along with the signal of raising a finger, then Nguyen Van Hau (aka Hau “phao”) immediately understood that she wanted him to pay $1 million in bribes immediately.
It is worth mentioning that the signal of “demanding money” was given by her in the morning, and by the afternoon the money was in Lan’s safe. This is evidence that cronyism in the “money–power” relationship in Vietnam has reached a professional and superior level.
Just looking at the prominent major cases in Vietnam recently, such as Viet A, Van Thinh Phat or most recently the Phuc Son Group case, it has shown that major corruption cases are all organized, with close and systematic connections of interest groups.
Accordingly, a sinful circle of corruption is formed, powerful state officials will create conditions for their backyard businesses to make money. After making money, businesses will share it with leaders at all levels.
Immediately, officials use bribes to lobby for higher positions with greater power too create a process: the greater the power, the more bribes will get.
That vicious circle develops in a spiral that is increasingly growing and developing. It seems that it has turned the provincial party committees into “inviolable” territories. From here, many of the highest-ranking leaders have also fallen into corruption.
Public opinion sees that the Phuc Son case is one of the clearest types of evidence showing the corruption of friendly relationships within the Communist Party of Vietnam. It is worth mentioning that the serious violations mentioned above by the leaders of the provincial Party Committees have been widely spread by public opinion in the localities for a very long time.
Many signs of major violations in the construction investment work in Vinh Phuc province were discovered before. In March 2019, Nguyen Thi Kim Anh – head of the inspection team of the Ministry of Construction came to inspect Vinh Phuc province. She got bribery and later was sentenced to 15 years in prison for that.
However, by spending money to manipulate the leaders of the provinces, Nguyen Van Hau, chairman of Phuc Son Group, got whatever he wanted. He monopolized a series of bidding packages from the North to the South to illegally profit with a value of tens of thousands of billions of VND.
But the authorities seem to be paralyzed, even in 2022, with 77.95/100 points, Vinh Phuc province was ranked first nationwide by the Government Inspectorate in terms of anti-corruption work.
Not only that, Secretary Lan was also awarded the Medal for the Cause of Inspection by the Government Inspectorate. The above–mentioned things have proven that the so-called “cronyism” has crept into the most hidden and secretive corners of Vietnamese politics.
It is worth mentioning that from the past until now, contractors have had to find ways to approach officials to give bribes to leaders. But now, the story is completely different, high-ranking officials in localities have become the “final boss” in public investment projects in their home province.
They are in charge of all the work from A to Z, both the contractor and the construction unit to take all profits while taxpayers have to use low-quality projects.
Tra My – Thoibao.de
