The 15th Plenum of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV)’s Central Committee was closed on Sunday morning, January 17, after a day and a half of work, ended earlier than its schedule planned until Monday, January 18.
The Party’s official announcement confirms this meeting has completed the nomination of personnel for four key titles: Secretary-General, President, Prime Minister, and the National Assembly’s Chairperson.
The party did not disclose the specific names of the people nominated for the 13th National Congress which will take place on January 25
Meanwhile, among the minority who are considered to be knowledgeable about the Vietnamese politics, they believe that incumbent Secretary-General and State President Nguyen Phu Trong have been introduced by the Politburo and the Central Committee at the 15th Plenum through the proposed plan for the title of General Secretary in the 13th term.
It is also said that Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc was approved by the Central Committee at the same plenum for the proposed position of State President.
Similarly, Mr. Pham Minh Chinh was approved by the plenum for the proposed Prime Minister, and Mr. Vuong Dinh Hue- chairman of the National Assembly.
How accurate this information is, will only be confirmed when the 13th Congress takes place.
It should also be noted that these are just expected plans, introduced by the Central Committee of the 12th tenure to the 13th Congress for consideration and decision.
Returning to the election process at the 12th Congress in 2016, firstly delegates were then notified to review the list of personnel of the Central Committee in the 12th tenure on January 25, 2016.
On January 26, 2016, they voted to select the Central Committee for the 12th term.
The members of the new Central Committee then met to elect the Politburo, the Secretariat, and the General Secretary. At that time, the Central Committee re-elected Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong as General Secretary.
Maybe “no need to amend the Party’s charter”
The Party’s Charter, after being revised at the 9th Congress in 2001 was added the provision: “The General Secretary must not hold more than two consecutive terms.”
However, Associate Professor Nguyen Viet Thong, secretary-general and standing member of the Central Theoretical Council told Ho Chi Minh City Law Newspaper that most people agreed with the Central Committee’proposal not to change the party’s Charter at the 13th National Congress.
“The charter stipulates that the Secretary-General does not hold the position for more than two consecutive terms. In my opinion, this provision not only applies to the title of Secretary-General but also has a guiding value, leading to regulations binding on the title of the leader in the entire political system. It is not only the secretaries at the party committees at all levels but also the heads of state agencies, organizations, and units.
Charter is a long-term, principle rule. But not so that becomes a barrier for special situations that arise, especially when the proposed solution reaches a consensus and high consensus at the Politburo and the Central Committee when introducing, nominating, and at the National Congress. when through the referral list, and election results.
The case that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong continues his third term if any is very special. Because it is very special, it cannot be used as a reason to amend or remove the provision for no more than two terms of the Charter,” Mr. Thong said.
Adopt the new Central Key list
In his closing speech at the 15th Plenum, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said that the Central Committee had voted through the list of personnel to nominate additional people for the first time to join the Central Committee of the 13th tenure, add a number of Central Committee members from the 12th term in the “special” cases for re-election in the 13th term, and a number of people in special cases to join official Central Committee members for the first time.
The word “special” here refers to the candidate’s age.
According to the Communist Party’s regulations on personnel work, the first-time participants in the Central Committee must be not over 55.
The re-elected members of the Central Executive Committee must be 60 or younger.
In special cases, the Central Committee may consider recommending re-election for the Central Committee members who are over 60 years old, and the Politburo member over 65 years old for the Congress to decide to vote on the Central Committee and the Politburo.
At the 12th National Party Congress (2016), the Party Central Committee introduced 5 special age cases.
There was a special case in the Politburo, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.
Four special cases were introduced to the Central Committee including Uong Chu Luu, Do Ba Ty, Bui Van Nam, and Huynh Phong Tranh; of which only Mr. Huynh Phong Tranh did not win the election.
Also in his closing speech, Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong said that the 15th Plenum approved Politburo members-special cases for re-election and the list of nominations for leading positions of the Party and State in the 2021-2026 period with a very high concentration of votes.”
The 13th National Congress will take place on January 25 and closed on Feb 2, according to the previous announcement of the party.
As many as 1,587 delegates representing more than 5.1 million party members will attend the 13th National Congress. Of which, there are 191 members of the Central Committee of the 12th tenure, deputies elected at the congresses of Party Committees: 1,381; and appointed delegates: 15.
The meeting will hold a preparatory session on January 25; The opening session will take place at 8:00 am on January 26, and will elect the Central Committee for the 2021-2026 term.
Thoibao.de (Translated)
Source: https://www.bbc.com/vietnamese/vietnam-55705042
