Under a new law just passed in Vietnam, communist officials in government – including the prime minister – will face an annual vote of confidence by the country’s 500-strong National Assembly that could help shore up confidence in the government and bureaucracy.

The move is a welcomed one, given Vietnam’s latest tussle with corruption which has hampered its economy and raised doubts about the tenure of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung due, at least in part, to his close associations with dubious business leaders in companies like ship builder Vinashin.