Khanh Hoa: Leaders detached from public may not be reappointed

Khanh Hoa province in Vietnam has introduced a new regulation aimed at enhancing the accountability of its officials, particularly those in leadership positions. Provincial, district, and departmental leaders, along with their deputies, are now required to sign commitments outlining their responsibilities and the consequences for failing to meet them.

Regulation 07-QĐ/TU, issued by the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, details the principles, scope of responsibility, and procedures for holding leaders accountable. It emphasizes that leaders bear comprehensive responsibility for the performance of the agencies, units, and localities under their charge. This includes not only directing and managing operations but also actively supervising, identifying, and rectifying any misconduct or shortcomings.

The regulation explicitly prohibits leaders from evading or shirking responsibility, or from exhibiting lax management that leads to violations, corruption, waste, internal disunity, or stagnation in addressing work. Leaders will face consequences proportionate to the severity and impact of any issues arising under their oversight, even if they did not directly commit the offense.

A significant aspect of the regulation is its linkage of leadership performance to the timely and quality resolution of issues for citizens and businesses, as well as the implementation of directives from higher authorities. Delays, lack of decisiveness, or prolonged backlogs can serve as grounds for personal accountability. Notably, the regulation includes provisions for not reappointing or demoting leaders who are found to be bureaucratic, disconnected from the public, or who fail to promptly address legitimate concerns, especially if such failures cause public outcry or damage the reputation of their office.