Da Nang City People's Council candidate eliminated because of... debt?

On April 15, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Da Nang City held the third consultation conference to select and establish a list of qualified candidates for the 14th National Assembly and the 9th Da Nang City People's Council.

Vote against including Mr. Son on the list.

The conference voted not to approve Mr. Nguyen Hong Son (Chairman of the Board of Directors of Thach Ban Central Joint Stock Company, Vice Chairman of the Da Nang Young Entrepreneurs Association) to be on the official list of candidates for the 9th term of the Da Nang City People's Council.

According to Mr. Nguyen Dang Hai, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Da Nang City, the reason for putting Mr. Son up for vote is because Mr. Son still owes taxes and social insurance.

The majority of delegates agreed to vote against Mr. Son being on the list of candidates for the City People's Council, but there were two opposing opinions because they believed that Mr. Son was a typical individual and worthy of becoming a City People's Council delegate.

Mr. Phan Hai, Chairman of the Da Nang Young Entrepreneurs Association, said: “This information came as a surprise to us because the standing committee had not yet informed the association. He was stuck because of the new Social Insurance Law and only owed social insurance for the first few months of 2016. In addition, Mr. Son has made many contributions to the city with many social projects for the community. From the perspective of a businessman, he does not have to avoid responsibility. If necessary, further verification is needed. This is not only Mr. Son's reputation but also that of the entire Da Nang business community.”

Mr. Truong Phuoc Anh, a representative of the Da Nang People's Council for the 2011-2016 term, also said: "Mr. Son has contributed to the community. He has tax and insurance debts, but it was only in early April. If he only owes social insurance, it is due to the changes in the Social Insurance Law this year. In terms of information, we need to review whether there is tax debt or not. We suggest that it be reconsidered."

On the afternoon of April 15, speaking with Tuoi Tre, Mr. Nguyen Hong Son said he was very sad when he heard this news.

“It is unfair for people to use that reason to remove me from the candidate list. I did not run for the Da Nang City People’s Council, but the Da Nang City Young Entrepreneurs Association trusted me and recommended me to run. If I become a City People’s Council delegate, it is to bring benefits to the community.

The business community in Da Nang knows how my company has been doing for the past 20 years. Now, they are using tax and insurance debts as an excuse to eliminate me. I am not someone who is greedy and is running for personal gain. This is the business community that introduced me.”

“I myself have received a certificate of merit from the city for being an outstanding entrepreneur in the past few years. If I did not pay taxes in full, how could they dare to praise me as an outstanding entrepreneur? I would also like to clarify that in the past three months I only owe 19 million VND in taxes. As for social insurance, it was due to the salary adjustment for employees since March, so there was a fluctuation. How much money is that to me? Every year my company pays nearly a billion VND in taxes. Now they are calling me out for being in debt, which greatly affects my honor and the reputation of the City Business Association.”

Mr. Son said he will go to the tax and insurance authorities to get confirmation on whether he has evaded his obligations to the State or not to restore honor to himself and the business community.

It is known that in 2015, Mr. Son initiated the social project for the community "Comfort as home", making going to the toilet in a strange place as comfortable as at home for tourists coming to Da Nang, which was highly appreciated.

Also at the 3rd consultation conference, a unanimous vote was taken to introduce eight candidates for the 14th National Assembly, including: Mr. Nguyen Thanh Quang (Head of the City Party Committee's Propaganda Department), Mr. Nguyen Ba Son (Chief Inspector of Da Nang City), Ms. Vo Thi Nhu Hoa (Director of the Department of Justice), Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Binh (Head of the Department of Justice's Administrative Department), Ms. Ngo Thi Kim Yen (Director of the Department of Health of Da Nang City), Ms. Le Thi Minh Thao (Deputy General Director of Thuan Phuoc Seafood and Trading Joint Stock Company), Ms. Kieu Thi Thanh Trang (Head of Vocational Training Department of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of Da Nang City) and Mr. Nguyen Hoang Giang (General Director of the Central Seafood Import-Export Joint Stock Company).

Currently, Da Nang is still waiting for the central government to send a list of two candidates for the National Assembly to run for the Da Nang constituency.

According to Tuoi Tre