The respective Party secretary and chairman of Quang Ngai Province in central Vietnam — Le Viet Chu, 57, and Tran Ngoc Cang, 60 — have handed in their letters of resignation after being disciplined for their violations.

A leader of the provincial government told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that both Chu and Cang had tendered their resignation, citing personal reasons.

The duo expected their resignation to facilitate personnel preparations for the forthcoming 2020-25 Party congress of Quang Ngai Province slated for November this year.

Their letters are awaiting the consideration of the Politburo and the Secretariat of the Central Party Committee.

Before taking up the post as the provincial Party chief during the 2015-20 tenure, Chu served as the chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, the provincial People’s Council, and the provincial Fatherland Front Committee.

Meanwhile, the province’s chairman Cang, who is also vice-secretary of the provincial Party Committee, was the head of the local Commission for Mass Mobilization and the chairman of the provincial People’s Council.

The two leaders, who are both Quang Ngai natives, did not answer phone calls from Tuoi Tre reporters for further details behind their resignation.

Punishments for various violations               

On June 16, the Politburo, the top decision-making body of the Communist Party of Vietnam, issued a warning against Chu as a disciplinary action.

The Politburo stated that as a member of the Party Central Committee and Party chief of Quang Ngai Province, Chu had to be held chiefly accountable for the violations and mistakes made by local Party chapters from 2010 to 2016 

These wrongdoings were related to the transfer, appointment, and rotation of officials; the nomination of candidates for elections; and the dispatch of officials, public workers and university graduates on overseas business and study trips.

They approved in principle several major projects funded by the private sector, and the leasing or granting of land to enterprises without an auction.

The local Party chief was found to have approved the addition of some projects to the list of medium-term public investment to aid enterprises’ projects and violated rules on state budget.

He was directly involved in the settlement of enterprises’ requests, which was beyond his authority or that of the provincial Party unit.

The Politburo noted his irregularities were severe, tarnishing the prestige of the local Party unit, the local government, and himself.

Meanwhile, the province’s chairman Cang was found to have committed many serious mistakes in his leadership, instruction, and management strategies which were related to land use, finance and budget, investment projects, and personnel issues.

The Inspection Commission of the Party Central Committee had previously issued a warning against him.

A former Party secretary of Quang Ngai Province, who declined to be named, told Tuoi Tre that it came as no surprise to him and many local residents when disciplinary measures were taken against the two leaders.

“Chu and Cang have issued several policies and made certain decisions on some construction projects that are not in line with regulations The handover and lease of land without auctions suggest his favor of enterprises,” said the former leader.

The ex-official also alleged the duo has caused problems over the use of the state budget for some projects.

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