Ministers must return their surplus cars: Deputy PM

Ministers and deputy ministers who have more cars than stipulated under Prime Ministerial Decree No. 15 issued in 2017 will have to return them to the state, a senior government leader has said.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Mr Somdy Duangdy, told Vientiane Times recently that the government has decided to form a committee to gather detailed information about the exact number of cars in the possession of third- and fourth-tier leaders.

“They [ministers] can buy their extra cars if they don’t want to return them but the purchase price will be calculated by the relevant sectors,” he said.       
The move comes after Prime Ministerial Decree No. 15 on the provision and management of vehicles for high-level officials was successfully enforced among the top tier of leaders.
Under the decree, the luxury vehicles owned by senior leaders will need to be returned to the state and replaced with cheaper brands.
Top- and second-tier leaders including Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and President Bounnhang Vorachit have already handed over their expensive luxury cars to set an example to other leaders.
Several BMW 730 LI and 13 Mercedes-Benz vehicles that were withdrawn from top and second-level leaders have been sold at auction.
This is a big change in state administration as the government seeks to reduce administrative costs and spend the money on priority development projects instead.
Mr Somdy said that despite recent successes, enforcement of the Prime Ministerial decree with regard to third- and fourth-tier leaders was not as stringent as it should be.
In recent years, the government has provided cars for some third- and fourth-tier leaders despite financial difficulties. Nevertheless, the government postponed the provision of cars to top provincial leaders in line with the decree as a result of budget constraints.  
According to the PM’s decree, the third level of leaders comprises members of the Party Central Committee, ministers, chairpersons of NA committees, the NA Secretary, President of the People’s Supreme Court, President of the Supreme Prosecutor and provincial governors. People in these positions will be provided with two vehicles – a car with an engine no bigger than 2,500 cc and a pick-up with an engine capacity no greater than 2,500 cc.
The fourth level comprises deputy ministers, vice chairpersons of NA committees, the NA Deputy Secretary, Vice President of the People’s Supreme Court and Vice President of the Supreme Prosecutor and deputy provincial governors, who will be provided with a car whose engine capacity does not exceed 2,000 cc.
The government is in the process of issuing a decree which will stipulate the type of vehicle that the director generals of departments should have.
The debate surrounding this matter is wide open because it will affect a large number of officials, some of whom are now driving expensive cars.    

By Somsack Pongkhao
(Latest Update July 17, 2019)