Vietnam Political Situation

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Carol Douglas

9:49pm Thursday 29 July

Vietnam Political Situation

The Communist Party of Viet Nam has held power since unification. The decisions of its leadership constitute national policy that the Executive (Central Committee) and the Legislature (National Assembly) are required to follow. At provincial and city level, People's Committees have considerable influence as their approval is a prerequisite for all development projects and expenditure in their jurisdiction.

The official Party policy is "democratisation within a one party state". The powers of the Communist Party were modified in the revised Constitution of 1992, which required Party organisations to act within the law, and gave increased authority to the Prime Minister and the National Assembly.

Day-to-day policy advice comes from the Party Secretariat (made up of some 14 Politburo and 160 Central Committee members). The Central Committee considers key policy issues several times per year, and five-yearly Party Congresses ratify major policy changes. The 10th Party Congress, held in April 2006, led to significant changes in the Party leadership, although Nong Duc Manh retained the key position of General Secretary. The National Assembly's June 2006 session subsequently confirmed a new Government leadership, including new President, Prime Minister and key Cabinet ministers. The new Government includes some relatively younger ministers and is considered a first step towards installing a new generation of leaders.

Viet Nam's human rights record is gradually improving. Government monitoring and control of all facets of the political, social, economic, and religious lives of the people is reducing in some areas but is still intrusive and at times erratic. Satellite television and the internet are now available, though internet use is monitored. Religious and media freedoms are closely controlled, and political pluralism has yet to be accepted.