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Vietnam

https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/

April 2024

Vietnam’s escalating anti-corruption campaign raises concerns of instability
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On 26 April, Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue resigned over unspecified ‘violations and shortcomings’ amidst a corruption investigation involving a real estate firm. This follows the arrest of Pham Thai Ha, the Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly four days earlier. Vietnam’s long-running anti-corruption campaign has intensified since 2022, ensnaring hundreds of high-ranking officials. Then-President Vo Van Thuong abruptly resigned in March, the second presidential resignation within 15 months. As a result, two of the four highest political offices in Vietnam are now vacant, alongside five of the 18 seats in the Communist Party Politburo. The anti-graft drive has also implicated private citizens; earlier in the month, a court sentenced property tycoon Truong My Lan to death in a USD 44 billion fraud case – a rare verdict for a white-collar crime. Political analysts have expressed concern that recent developments indicate growing political instability in the country.

Update: Vietnam’s National Assembly elected General Luong Cuong as president on 21 October. Political analysts note that Cuong’s appointment represents an attempt to stabilize the system after months of political turmoil. 

Source: International IDEA (1), International IDEA (2), The New York Times, Foreign Policy, Vietnam Economic Times, Al JazeeraDeutsche Welle, CNN

March 2024

Concerns raised over secret directive to curb fundamental rights

On 1 March, a secret order known as “Directive 24” was obtained by rights watchdog, the 88 Project, allegedly revealing that the Communist Party of Vietnam issued a sweeping direction on 13 July 2023 seeking to protect “national security in the context of comprehensive and deep international integration.” Rights advocates note that the nine-order directive includes concerning provisions which urge officials to increase media censorship, prevent civil society groups from getting involved in legislation and policymaking, ban the formation of trade unions, and crack down on foreign influence, among other things. According to Human Rights Watch, the “implementation of the directive is well underway,” with co-director of 88 Project arguing that the directive “heralds the start of an even harsher campaign against human rights activists and civil society groups.” The government issued a statement saying that Vietnam remains “committed to its international commitments, including those in trade and human rights.”

Sources: Al Jazeera, The Washington Post, NPR, BBC News, The 88 Project, VOA

July 2023

Court sentences 54 individuals in high profile corruption case

On 28 July, the Hanoi People's Court handed down lengthy prison sentences to 54 individuals, including high-ranking officials, senior diplomats, businesspeople and a former deputy foreign minister on corruption and bribery charges linked to repatriation flights carried out during the Covid-19 pandemic. Those convicted were found guilty of "receiving, offering or being complicit in bribes, fraud and abusing positions of power." Four former officials at the ministries of foreign affairs, health and public security received life sentences. Political analysts consider the case to be one of the largest bribery cases in the country's history. The court's ruling marks a significant development within the country's extensive anti-corruption campaign, which has already resulted in the forced resignations of the state president and two deputy prime ministers in early 2023.

Sources: Reuters, Tuoi Tre News, British Broadcasting Corporation, Channel News Asia

June 2023

Continuing suppression of dissent

Vietnamese authorities arrested and detained prominent environmentalist and climate change campaigner Hoang Thi Minh Hong on 1 June for alleged tax evasion charges. Several staff members from founder Hong's non-governmental organization CHANGE were also detained but subsequently released. Human rights experts note Hong's arrest is part of a broader trend of targeting free speech and restricting civic space, with Hong's case marking the fifth prominent environmental defender arrested for tax evasion in the past two years. The United Nations states that at least 20 activists and human rights defenders have been arrested under wrongful charges in the past year, calling into question the independence of the judiciary. Human Rights Watch has furthermore criticized Vietnam's use of the vaguely worded and flawed tax used in targeting human rights activists, adding that most of the persecutions are politically motivated. According to Human Rights Watch, more than 150 political prisoners are being held in Vietnam for exercising free speech.

Sources: United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, The Guardian, Mongabay, Human Rights Watch, The Diplomat

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Global ranking per category of democratic performance in 2023

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Representation
134/173
Rights
126/173
Rule of Law
117/173
Participation
132/173

Basic Information

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Population Tooltip
98,186,856
System of government
Communist State
Head of government
Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính (since 2021)
Head of government party
Communist Party of Vietnam
Electoral system for lower or single chamber
Two-Round System
Women in lower or single chamber
30.6%
Women in upper chamber
Not applicable
Last legislative election
2021
Head of state
President Tô Lâm (Since May 2024)
Selection process for head of state
Indirect election (assembly)
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) date
07/05/2024
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) percentage of recommendations supported
Outcome decision pending
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Human Rights Treaties

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State Party State party
Signatory Signatory
No Action No action
United Nations Human Right Treaties
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
State Party
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
State Party
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
State Party
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
State Party
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment
State Party
Convention on the Rights of the Child
State Party
International Convention on Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
No Action
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance 
No Action
International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
State Party
International Labour Organisation Treaties
Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention
No Action
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention
State Party
Equal Remuneration Convention
State Party
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention
State Party
Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment
State Party
Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention
State Party
in
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Performance by category over the last 6 months

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Representation neutral Rule of law
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Representation neutral Participation
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Global State of Democracy Indices

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Explore the indices
Representation
Representation
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/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rights
Rights
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/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rule of Law
Rule of Law
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high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Participation
Participation
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high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4

Factors of Democratic Performance Over Time

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