A Glass Half Full or Half Empty?

Summary

This chapter first provides an analysis of appointments and elections at the 11th National Congress of the Vietnam Communist Party (VCP), which was the main event on the political stage in Vietnam in 2011. It is followed by a discussion of the revision of the Party Manifesto, the first revision in twenty years; the National Assembly elections; the major economic issues; and some foreign policy developments.

11th Party national Congress

Attended by 1,337 delegates who represented 3.6 million party members and 54,000 Party cells, the 11th Party National Congress of the Vietnamese Communist Party (VCP) was held from 12 to 19 January 2011. The Party National Congress is held once every five years and serves as the lighthouse of the Party in two senses. First, it passes the policies proposed by the Party leadership that are embodied in Party documents, such as the Political Report, and the Five Year Socio-Economic Plan. Second, an election for the top office holders of the Party for the next five years takes place.

Perhaps it is useful to understand how the Party leadership is elected and works. First, the Party National Congress elects a new Central Committee, which acts as the Party's policy-setting body in between the national congresses. Membership in the Central Committee comprises the elites among Party members; only the top officials of a particular ministry or sector (usually from Vice Minister and leaders of provinces and above in ranking) are nominated for election. The Central Committee would in turn elect a Political Bureau, and its top leader, the General Secretary. During its five-year term, the Central Committee meets twice This chapter first provides an analysis of appointments and elections at the 11th National Congress of the Vietnam Communist Party (VCP), which was the main event on the political stage in Vietnam in 2011. It is followed by a discussion of the revision of the Party Manifesto, the first revision in twenty years; the National Assembly elections; the major economic issues; and some foreign policy developments.