Candidates for the National Assembly and People's Council who falsely declare their assets and income will be punished.

"If National Assembly deputies or People's Council deputies make incorrect or dishonest declarations, they will be handled according to the nature and severity, with no exceptions."

​That is the content that Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Nguyen Hoang Nang discussed with reporters about the issue of transparency of assets and income for candidates for the National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2016-2021 term.

According to Article 35, Chapter V of the Law on Election of National Assembly Deputies and People's Council Deputies, the candidacy dossier of candidates for National Assembly Deputies and People's Council Deputies at all levels includes: candidacy application, curriculum vitae certified by the competent authority of the unit, summary biography, declaration of assets and income according to the provisions of law on anti-corruption.

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Nang

PV:How are the asset and income declarations of candidates who are not cadres, party members, or civil servants working in state agencies and in the political system managed and verified?

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Nang: Asset declaration for candidates for the National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels to determine the origin of their assets is clear, transparent and proves that the origin of those assets is reasonable and clear.

If the candidate is not working in a state agency or in the political system, he/she must declare all assets that he/she has created during his/her working process. The provincial and municipal election committees will keep the asset declarations of the candidates. When they become National Assembly deputies or People's Council deputies, if anyone reports a lack of transparency in declaring assets and income during their working process, the responsible agency will have a basis to consider whether the declaration is truthful or not.

PV: If we find out that the declaration is incorrect or dishonest, how will we handle it, sir?

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Nang: Based on the provisions of the Law on Organization of the National Assembly and the Law on Organization of People's Councils at all levels for handling. In which, the responsibilities of National Assembly deputies and People's Council deputies if they declare incorrectly or dishonestly will be handled depending on the nature and extent, without exception.

PV:During the past term, people reported that some National Assembly deputies and People's Council deputies at all levels had unclear sources of assets and income, and became unusually rich?

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Nang:In the structure, the composition of elected bodies from People's Councils at all levels to the National Assembly does not operate professionally. Each delegate represents certain structures and components, some of whom work in state agencies and organizations, in the political system, social organizations, some of whom work in businesses... The enrichment of delegates outside state agencies and organizations, due to legal business activities, is normal.

For National Assembly deputies or People's Council deputies at all levels who work in state agencies, organizations, political and social organizations, if it is discovered that the declaration of assets and income is incorrect or the origin of assets is unclear, they must be handled according to the Law on Anti-Corruption.

PV:There are delegates who work outside of state agencies, they are businessmen working in the economic sector and have become unusually rich during their term of office. People question whether, because they are in the elected power apparatus, they have access to a lot of information and many beneficial policies, or even participate in interest groups that dominate the promulgation of policies?

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Nang:This issue needs to be based on the specific business conditions of that representative. If that person becomes unusually rich and is considered to have taken advantage of his position and influence to know information and policies for personal gain, or colluded with each other to form an interest group that controls a certain issue or field of activity, it must be verified, clarified and handled at different levels.

The issue of asset and income declaration is not only to monitor and supervise the activities of candidates or representatives, but also to determine whether they take advantage of knowing policies and strategies that are beneficial to their industry and business, and then collude with people with positions and powers in the government apparatus and in state agencies to gain benefits. If this behavior is determined, it must be handled according to current laws for violations in economic activities and anti-corruption.

PV:Have you discovered and handled any cases so far, sir?

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Nang: In the past time in Ho Chi Minh City, we have not detected any cases.

PV:In the period before and after the third consultative conference, if people discover that candidates for National Assembly deputies and People's Council deputies at all levels have committed illegal acts in declaring assets and income and send complaints to competent authorities, how will the handling be carried out?

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Nang: Before the 3rd consultative conference and after the official list of candidates for the National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels has been established, the Ho Chi Minh City Election Committee will receive complaints from voters regarding the contents related to asset and income declarations, and will assign the competent authorities to investigate and verify in the most specific manner with the fastest time and the earliest conclusion to ensure the rights of the candidates. The deadline for consideration and conclusion is 10 days before the election.

PV: Thank you sir./.

According to Article 35, Chapter V of the Law on Election of National Assembly Deputies and People's Council Deputies, the candidacy dossier of candidates for National Assembly Deputies and People's Council Deputies at all levels includes: candidacy application, curriculum vitae certified by the competent authority of the unit, summary biography, declaration of assets and income according to the provisions of law on anti-corruption.

According to Saigon Liberation