1. Building and rectifying the Party is a key task and a decisive factor for the success or failure of the Vietnamese revolution.
This is an important content repeatedly mentioned by the General Secretary when discussing the Party’s role and leadership responsibilities towards revolution as well as the significance of the Party building and rectification. In the article titled “Some theoretical and practical issues on socialism and the path towards socialism in our country”, the General Secretary emphasizes that the Party’s leadership is a factor determining the success of the renovation process and ensures the country’s development in accordance with the socialist orientation. With many significant and historical achievements accomplished through 35 years of renewal process, including 30 years of implementing the Platform on national construction in the period of transition to socialism, it can be affirmed that “Our country has never had such opportunity, potential, international standing and prestige as it does today.” (1). These attainments are the outcomes of creativity, a process of persistent and continuous efforts over numerous terms of the entire Party, people and army; continue to affirm that our path to socialism is correct, consistent with objective laws, with Vietnam’s practice, and with the development trend of the era. Therefore, we must “pay special attention to the work of building and rectifying the Party, considering this a key task of vital significance for the Party and the socialist regime.” (2)
In an article on the occasion of the 89th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (3/2/1930 – 3/2/2019), the General Secretary made assessments of the efforts of the whole Party and the results of Party building work since the 12th National Party Congress. At the same time, the General Secretary also pointed out that the Party building process still had a lot of works to do, especially fighting against the deterioration of political ideology, morals, lifestyle, and expressions of “self-evolution” and internal “self-transformation”; corruption, wastefulness, bureaucracy, indifference to citizens and so on. Besides, hostile forces have been looking for ways to sabotage the revolutionary cause of our people; they have made every effort to distort and slander our Party and State, directly attacked the Party’s ideology, platform, and political lines, created internal divisions in our Party as well as a split between the Party, the State and the people, in order to disintegrate our Party and our regime from the root, from internal in a malicious and dangerous way.
In order to take care of the country’s position, cultivate people’s hearts, building the Party worthy to be the “descendant” of the nation, “a true leader and faithful servant of the People”, leading the next renewal process to continuously move forward, the General Secretary emphasized that “Our Party must make every effort to promote the Party building and rectifying process, making the Party more and more transparent and strong, fulfilling its responsibilities as the pioneer in leading the revolutionary cause in the new period” (3). In his Speech at the 90th founding anniversary of the Party, the General Secretary indicate that “The general direction of the current Party building and rectifying work is to continue to promote the good tradition, maintain and strengthen the revolutionary nature and pioneering role of the Party, developing a truly transparent and strong Party in terms of politics, ideology, morality, organization and cadres, renewing leadership methods, and solidifying the flesh – and – blood relationship between the Party and the people, ensuring the Party’s abilities to lead the cause of the country in constant development’ (4). The Party must be built and rectified with a positive, resolute and strong spirit, in order to create a substantial change in all aspects, prevent and reverse the degradation, and improve a degree of consistency in realizing the Party’s revolutionary goals and ideals; enhance the unity of will and action; fortify the Party’s organization; reinforce close relations of the Party with the people; increase the Party’s leadership capacity and combat strength, considering this a vital issue of our Party and our regime.
2. Strengthening the Party building in politics, improving the Party’s political bravery and intellectual level
This is a matter of principle that must be prioritized above all else for the Party, any expression of slight disregard for Party building in terms of politics is a manifestation of the degradation in political ideology, self-evolution, and internal self-transformation. The first important issue in Party building in terms of politics is to affirm the Party’s position, leadership and ruling role.
The General Secretary stated in his speech to commemorate the 90th founding anniversary of the Party: “The rich and vivid reality of the Vietnamese revolution over the past 90 years has proved that the Party’s correct and prudent leadership has been the primary factor determining every victory of the revolution, paving the way for numerous miracles in Vietnam. On the other hand, through the process of revolutionary leadership, our Party has steeled itself and become increasingly matured, deserving the role and mission of a revolutionary leader as well as the trust and expectations of the people” (5). That fact proclaims a truth: “In Vietnam, there is no other political forces than the Communist Party of Vietnam that has enough bravery, wisdom, experience, prestige and abilities to lead the country to overcome all difficulties and challenges, guiding the revolutionary cause of our nation from one victory to another” (6).
Along with the Party’s position, leadership and ruling role being affirmed, a significant issue in Party building in terms of politics has been repeatedly emphasized by the General Secretary, that is to be consistent with Marxism-Leninism, and to maintain the nature of the Party’s working-class. In the Report of the Party Central Committee XII on documents submitted to the National Party Congress XIII, the General Secretary pointed out: “The guiding thought embracing the entire Party, people and army is to maintain consistency in understanding Marxism – Leninism and Ho Chi Minh’s thought while adopting creative application and development of these ideologies; being consistent with the goals of national independence and socialism; following the Party’s unchanged pathway to renewal; steadfastly adhering to the principles of Party building; ensuring the highest interests of the nation state on the basis of basic principles of international law including equality, cooperation, and mutual benefit, to firmly build and protect the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland.”(7). The General Secretary highlighted that this was a matter of principle, owning the vital significance to our regime and being a solid foundation of our Party, and that no one would be allowed to swing back and forth. He furthered this argument by opining that “the Party must be steadfast and stand firm on the Marxist-Leninist theoretical and ideological underpinnings, a scientific and revolutionary theory of the working class and the working masses” (8). The General Secretary also pointed out, given our Party being the ruling party, operating in the environment of market economy development and international integration while cadres and party members assuming numerous responsibilities, daily and hourly contacting with goods and money associated with their personal interests, facing many temptations and the downsides of the market mechanism, we must pay more attention to maintaining the revolutionary and pioneering nature of the Party. If this case is not deeply conceived and if cadres and party members are not steadfast in the Party’s ideal goals, ideological and political aspects, they will be easily degraded and degenerated.
Along with strengthening Party building in terms of politics, it is required that the Party simultaneously improve its intellectual level, leadership capacity, combat strength and ruling capacity. Without intellectuality, leadership and ruling capacity, and combat strength, the Party has no real power, even though it possesses political bravery. Therefore, the General Secretary indicated that it would be necessary for our Party to further improve the bravery, qualifications, intelligence, leadership and power in planning and implementing guidelines and policies, in line with Vietnam’s reality and development orientation of the era. Timely institutionalizing, concretizing, properly and effectively implementing the guidelines and guidelines of the Party, policies and laws of the State, and overcoming weaknesses in leadership, direction and organization, would also be indispensable.
In order to improve degrees of political bravery, intellectuality and leadership capacity of the Party, the Party is required to creatively apply and develop Marxism-Leninism, “to absorb and supply selectively in a rational and creative way with the latest ideological and scientific achievements so that our doctrines and theories are always fresh, always invigorated, carrying the breath of the era, not falling into stagnation and lagging behind the world” (9). The General Secretary pointed out that moving up towards the socialist orientation would be a process of constantly consolidating, enhancing and promoting socialist factors so that those factors could gradually dominate, overwhelm and finally win. Success or failure would depend, first of all, on the correctness of the Party’s lines, organizational level, political bravery, leadership capacity and fighting strength.
3. To attach importance to Party building in terms of ideology, raise the level of theoretical thinking, promote review of practice, supplement and develop theory, all serving to make guidelines and policies for national construction and development
Along with strengthening Party building in terms of politics, the General Secretary stressed that the Party must attach great importance to Party building in terms of ideology with emphasis on ideological absorption and consistency based on foundations of Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh’s thought, in parallel with constant supplement and creative development of these ideologies, in line with Vietnamese reality; being consistent with the goals of national independence and socialism; firmly adhering to the renovation policy, strictly observing the Party’s principles of organization and operation. It is also important to promote education on the glorious cultural, historical and revolutionary traditions of the Party and the nation; constantly improve levels of political theory for cadres and party members; regularly fight against and prevent plots and anti-destructive activities of hostile, reactionary forces, contend against and oppose wrong and hostile views, protect the ideological foundation of the Party.
The core issue of Party building in terms of ideology emphasized by the General Secretary is the building of the Party’s scientific and revolutionary theoretical basis, as V.I. Lenin noted: “Without revolutionary theory there can be no revolutionary movement” (10). “Only when a party is guided by the most advanced theory will it be able to fulfill the role of a vanguard fighter” (11). President Ho Chi Minh pointed out that in order to lead the revolutionary cause, the Party must be strong. If the Party wants to be strong, it must have “certain ideology as its core”, everyone in the Party must understand and follow that tenet. “A party without ideology is like a person without wisdom, a ship without a compass” (12). According to the General Secretary, although our country has passed 35 years of implementing the renovation, including 30 years of realizing the 1991 Platform, there are still numerous theoretical and practical problems that have not been fully explained and elucidated. In addition, there are new issues that the current development of the world, especially that of Vietnam, need to be studied and summarized in order to contribute to the development and improvement of the guidelines, viewpoints and policies fabricated by the Party, serving as the basis for solidifying unity within the Party, consensus in society, protecting the ideological foundation of the Party, fighting against and opposing wrong and distorted views given by hostile and reactionary forces. Therefore, the General Secretary emphasized the need to thoroughly grasp the viewpoint given at the National Party Congress XIII “Enhancing the Party’s theoretical thinking, promoting review of practice, theoretical research, and timely provision of scientific bases for the formulation of the Party’s directions and guidelines, and the State’s policies and laws” (13).
Stemming from the reality of and requirements for ideological and theoretical work, the General Secretary pointed out that it was necessary to fully and more deeply understand the requirements for theoretical work in the new period. The international context and the country’s need for breakthrough development in the new period require our Party to continue to renew its development thought in parallel with promoting our country’s potential, position and practical conditions in accordance with the development trend of the world. Therefore, “it is unacceptable to prolong the backwardness of theory as compared to the movement and requirements of reality. Theory must precede practice to lead and accompany it”, “must have a strategic vision” (14). The General Secretary also emphasized that it was essential to make breakthroughs in the theory of development, clear the bottlenecks in thinking, perception and viewpoints to serve the improvement of institutions, building guidelines and policies, orientations and policies for development; that it was also crucial to arouse aspirations and promote the will and determination to rise up of the whole nation; strive to successfully implement the goals and tasks set out by the National Party Congress XIII.
The General Secretary requested Central Theoretical Council and our country’s theorists to answer the question: To serve and contribute to achieving the country’s development goals through three important milestones 2025, 2030, 2045, what is the goal of theoretical development in Vietnam? It is probable that by 2025, on the basis of summarizing 40 years of implementation of the renewal process and 50 years of national reunification, it is necessary to basically improve the theoretical system with regard to the innovation pathway; by 2030, on the basis of summarizing 40 years of implementation of the Platform for national construction in the transition to socialism, summarizing 100 years of Party leadership of the Vietnamese revolution, it is possible to supplement and develop the Platform to meet the requirements of the new period; supplement, enrich and take one step further to perfect the ideological foundation of the Party; and by 2045, when our country becomes a developed and high-income country, we will have a complete, scientific and modern theoretical system concerning socialism and Vietnam’s path to socialism.
4. Promoting Party building in terms of morality, Party culture and political culture
This is the content mentioned by the General Secretary intensively and profoundly in his many articles and speeches. Because after all, morality is the “root”, the foundation of being a human, a cadre and a party member. In the speech given at the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the implementation of President Ho Chi Minh’s testament and the 50th anniversary of his death, the General Secretary pointed out that the teachings of President Ho Chi Minh on revolutionary ethics “are a profound conclusion in theory, as well as a matter of principle to maintain and enhance the leadership role of the Party, the fighting strength of the Party organization, teams of cadres and party members, creating the power of gathering forces, consolidating and raising the masses’ confidence in the Party” (15).
From reviewing the life, career, and great thought of President Ho Chi Minh, his shining, exemplary and noble example of revolutionary morality, from the nature of a genuine and revolutionary communist party, the General Secretary came to the conclusion that it was necessary to focus on building the Party in terms of morality, actively fighting against bureaucracy, corruption, wastefulness and negative things; effectively prevent and repel the deterioration of political ideology, morality, lifestyle, manifestations of internal “self-evolution” and “self-transformation”, in association with promoting learning and following Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, morality and style; encouraging cadres and party members to assume responsibilities in setting an example according to the motto “the higher the position, the more exemplary it is”.
In his speech given at the 130th Birthday Celebration of President Ho Chi Minh (19/5/1890 – 19/5/2020), the General Secretary emphasized: “Follow Uncle Ho’s instructions on “Improving the revolutionary morality, wiping out individualism”, we need to resolutely, persistently and actively clean up the Party team, prevent and repel corruption, the deterioration of political ideology, morality, lifestyle of cadres and party members, the situation of internal “self-evolution’, “self-transformation” (16). Each cadre and party member should seriously take their responsibilities to set an example; The higher the position, the greater the responsibility, notably the heads of institutions and units in the Party and in the government apparatus, must be more exemplary in cultivating and enhancing moral qualities, lifestyles, styles, manners, working styles so that the masses and citizens can follow, as Uncle Ho taught: “a real-life example is worth more than a hundred propaganda speeches”.
Party building on ethics was developed by the General Secretary to a new height, with new requirements and placed in relationship with building Party culture and political culture. In his speech given at the National Conference to review the 5-year implementation of Directive No. 05-CT/TW adopted by the Politburo “On promoting learning and following Ho Chi Minh’s thought, morality and style”, on June 12, 2021, the General Secretary pointed out, it was essential to continue to “make studying and following Ho Chi Minh’s thought, morality and style to become regular actions, cultural and spiritual needs in the Party, creating clear mark on building party culture, so that our Party is truly “ethical, civilized” (17). The content of building party culture and political culture was mentioned by the General Secretary in numerous articles and speeches with the following requirements: focusing on the relationship between culture and politics, culture and economy; developing culture in the Party and in the entire political system; building civil servant culture, public service culture, especially public service ethics, with emphasis on encouraging the example of cadres and party members. Focusing on building the Party and political system in terms of culture and morality; resolutely fight against corruption and negative things, so that our Party and our country’s political system are truly ethical, civilized, representing the conscience and dignity of Vietnamese people. Building a culture in leadership and management; promoting the role of exemplary amongst cadres and party members, especially strategic level cadres and leaders following President Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, morality and cultural style. Enhancing the role and leadership capacity of the Party; effective management of the State; the active participation of the Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations in the cause of cultural development.
5. Continuing to build the Party in terms of organization, cadres and party members, resolutely and persistently fighting against corruption and negative things
Party building in terms of organization, cadres and party members and the fight against corruption and negative things are issues of special concern to the General Secretary. In the Report of the 12th Central Committee of the Party on documents submitted to the 13th National Party Congress, the General Secretary emphasized the need to renew and improve the organizational structure of the political system to be lean and efficient in parallel with consolidating and improving the quality of party organizations and party members.
In particular, attaching importance to improving the quality and effectiveness of cadres’ work – a vital part in Party building work. The General Secretary pointed out that it was necessary to focus on building a contingent of cadres at all levels, especially at the strategic level with qualifications, abilities and prestige on par with their duties, with strong political will, and pure ethical manners, wholeheartedly willing to serve the Fatherland and the people, having the capacity and credentials to meet the requirements of the duty. Officials, regardless of their positions, must always have a full sense of their responsibilities, do “play right roles, assume responsibility”, get assigned tasks completed and qualified; being closely attached to the people, being loved and respected by the people.
Well implementing the policy of encouraging and protecting officials who are dynamic, creative, dare to think, dare to speak, dare to do, and always strive to act in the public interest. Paying attention to building a team of scientists, managers, female cadres, young cadres, and ethnic minority cadres.
The content of the stages of personnel work was mentioned quite comprehensively and deeply by the General Secretary in his many articles and speeches with requirements such as: Renovating, improving the efficiency of personnel allocation and rotation. Proactively detecting the source of leaders and managers at all levels, especially those at the strategic level for the period 2025 – 2030 and the next terms, ensuring the inheritance, stability, innovation and development in quantity and quality improvement as well as reasonable structure. The rotation of cadres must be consistent with the allocating titles; ensuring balance and harmony between cadre rotation and development of in-place personnel resources; horizontal and vertical rotation; strengthening cadres with bravery, qualifications and capacity for key areas, difficult and complicated fields; overcoming the closed circle in cadre work; continuing to effectively implement the policy of arranging key leadership positions for those who are not local people. Improving the quality of staff evaluation based on fair, objective and clear criteria and through specific products; linking individual assessment with organizational assessment, with actual results of performing tasks in localities, associations and units. Timely dismissing, resigning, replacing cadres with limited capacity, low reputation, making mistakes without having to wait until the end of the term or appointment. Absolutely fighting against partial ideology, factions, “group interests”, negative trends. Strictly implementing the principle of democratic centralism, promoting democracy in association with reinforcing the responsibilities of the Party committees and leaders in cadre work. Strengthening control of power in cadre work in a substantive and effective way; ensuring compliance with regulations, processes, fairness, objectivity, coherence and caution in each stage of cadre work; not allowing unqualified, politically opportunistic people with evident ambitions for power to become leaders and managers at all levels.
Party building in terms of organization, cadres and party members must be together fighting against corruption and negative trends with a high level of determination, a resolute and uncompromising attitude and through drastic, practical and effective actions. It is because corruption is one of the dangers threatening the survival of our Party and regime. The General Secretary emphasized: “fighting corruption is ‘fighting against internal invaders’, an important, regular, urgent, difficult, complex and long-term task; must be carried out resolutely, persistently, continuously, “non-stop”, at all levels, branches and fields”, implementing synchronously political, ideological, and organizational measures in addition to administrative, economic, criminal justice solutions; with firm, positive, proactive and focused steps. It is necessary to build a strict prevention mechanism so that “corruption is impossible”, a mechanism of strict deterrence and punishment towards “don’t dare to corrupt” and a mechanism to ensure “no need to corrupt” (18). It is also crucial to closely combine active prevention with proactive detection and strict handling of corrupt and negative acts in a timely manner; punish violators by synchronously using Party discipline, administrative sanctions and criminal law, regardless of who they are.
Implement drastically, regularly, comprehensively and synchronously the inspection, supervision, audit, investigation, prosecution, adjudication, judgment delivery, early detection and strict handling of corruption and bribery cases. Resolutely recover corrupt assets; promptly handle and replace leaders and managers when there are signs of corruption and negativity. Gradually expand the scope of anti-corruption to the non-state sector; extend and improve the effectiveness of international cooperation in anti-corruption. In particular, the General Secretary emphasized: “It is necessary to build a contingent of officers working in anti-corruption work who are truly brave, having real integrity, being clean, not bearing any impure pressure from any organizations or individuals; having capacity to resist any temptation or bribe from the offenders” (19).
6. Solidifying the close relationship with the people, relying on the people to build the Party
Close attachment to the people is the essence and source of the Party’s power. The General Secretary stated: “A genuine revolutionary party that has the right guidelines, being well organized, possessing a team of cadres and party members who are clean, exemplary, devoted, closely attached to the people, and being supported by them, will definitely have invincible power, and no force can stop it on the path of leading the nation to moving forward” (20). Building socialism is a great creative career, full of challenges and difficulties, fraught with long-term goals, and cannot be rushed. Therefore, in addition to determining the right guidelines and directions, ensuring the leadership role of the Party, we must strongly promote the role of creativity, support and active participation of the people. People’s strength is the deep roots of victory and development.
The General Secretary pointed out that from the reality of the renew process, our Party has drawn a number of valuable lessons, including lessons on respecting the people, being closely attached to the people, and learning from the people, wholeheartedly serving the people, being subject to the people’s supervision; promoting great strength of the people in the cause of national defense, maintaining national security and public order, and preventing and combating corruption as well as the negatives. In all work of the Party and State, we must always thoroughly grasp President Ho Chi Minh’s point of view “the people are the root”, “must be close to the people, help the people, learn from the people”; truly believe, respect and promote the people’s right to mastery, resolutely and persistently implement the motto “people know, people discuss, people do, people monitor, people supervise, people benefit”. It is necessary to uphold the role the people as the subject having the central position in the national development strategy. “The people are the center and the subject of the renovation, construction and defense of the Fatherland; all undertakings and policies must really come from the people’s life, aspirations, rights and legitimate interests; considering the people’s happiness and well-being as a goal to strive for” (21), is the criterion to evaluate the quality of the organizational apparatus and the quality of cadres and party members.
In order to strengthen the people’s trust in the Party, the General Secretary requested to resolutely and actively purify the Party’s cadres, preventing decline and deterioration in the quality and lifestyle of a small part of cadres and Party members, consolidating and building pure and strong party organizations, and hence, making the Party truly the leader and faithful servant of the people. It is essential to promoting democracy, raising the sense of responsibility, setting a good example and the spirit of public service amongst cadres, civil servants and public employees. Also, is is vital to do better the role of gathering, listening to the people’s opinions and transfer them to the party and institution at the central and local levels. It is required to actively coordinate with authorities at all levels to effectively solve pressing social problems at the grassroots level, contributing to ensuring the people’s legitimate rights and interests. We have to always dialogue with, listen to and learn from the people, receive their ideas, solve their difficulties, problems and legitimate requests based on trust in the people and respect for the people. At the same time, promote socio-political positivity, people’s rights and responsibilities to participate in building and rectifying the Party, building a Socialist Rule of Law state, the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations, building a contingent of party members, cadres and civil servants; have a mechanism to unleash all potentials, strengths and creativity, encourage people to participate in economic development and manage social development.
In his many articles, the General Secretary asked cadres and party members to tighten close relationships with the people, listen to the people’s opinions, rely on the people, promote the role and strength of solidarity, wisdom and make use of all resources of the people in organizing successful implementation of all directions and guidelines set out by the Party. He stated that it was crucial to resolutely eliminate the attitude of indifference, insensitivity to the frustrations of the people; resolutely eliminate all abuses of power to infringe upon the people’s legitimate interests. Whatever is beneficial to our people, we must do our best, and what is harmful to our people, we must do our utmost to avoid it. We must love the people, respect the people, then the people will love and respect us. Therefore, we must always stay closely connected to the people, putting the best interests of the people first and foremost. It is also necessary to raise the sense of responsibility amongst state officials, civil servants and public employees in practicing the style of mass mobilization following the example and morality of President Ho Chi Minh: “respect the people, connect to the people, understand the people, learn from the people and assume responsibilities towards the people”; “Listen to the people, speak to the people, understand, make the people believe”, truly work for the people, serving the best interests of the people.
7. Continue to strongly renew the Party’s leadership methods, with new contents and requirements
On the basis of affirming the basic leadership methods of the Party as stated in the Platform for national construction in the transitional period, towards socialism (supplemented and developed in 2011), in response to the requirement for accelerating the national renewal, the General Secretary pointed out that strengthening the thorough Party building and rectification must be associated with the renewal of leadership and ruling methods the Party in many aspects, in which some important methods can be generalized as follows:
Firstly, special attention must be paid to the work of cadres in the entire political system. Personnel work must really be “the core of the core”, with a focus on building a large contingent of cadres at all levels, especially strategic level cadres and leaders with sufficient qualifications, abilities and prestige, on par with their mission. Promoting the role and responsibility of setting a good example amongst cadres and party members, especially the leaders, in specializing and organizing the implementation of the Party’s resolutions, policies and laws of the State according to the motto “The higher the position, the more exemplary one must be, speaking goes together with action, and superiors set a good example for subordinates”. It is important to strictly adhere to the principle of democratic centralism, collective leadership, individual responsibility, internal unity and solidarity, top-down and bottom-up consensus.
Second, improve qualifications and capacity, especially the capacity to thoroughly understand, concretize, institutionalize and organize the implementation of resolutions and directives adopted by the Party, party committees party organizations at all levels and others institutions within the entire political system. In particular, the General Secretary emphasized that the new requirements for organizing the implementation of the Party’s resolutions were that right after the National Party Congress, the National Assembly, the Government, the Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations, committees, Ministries, branches and Party committees and organizations at all levels from central to grassroots should immediately embark on specifying, and development and implementation of action plans, quickly putting the Party’s resolutions into practice. This required a close and rhythmic coordination, the participation of the whole political system, the unanimity and determination of the entire Party, people and army. The General Secretary stated: “This is a new methodical and scientific, way with the spirit of (…) “authority calls on, people follow/support”, “One shout, thousands of response”, “Top-down consensus” and “Vertical and horizontal transparency”, we will definitely overcome all difficulties and challenges and win many new victories”(22).
Third, reforming the leadership method requires a renewal of the leadership mechanism, so it is necessary to quickly improve the mechanism, renew the leadership method of the Party committees and organizations at all levels, in a unified and thorough manner from the central to grassroots. At the same time, continue to renovate the working styles and manners of associations, units, collectives and individuals, especially the heads of the Party committees, party organizations and other organizations in the entire political system in accordance with the provisions set out in the Party’s Charter, the Constitution and the law, meeting the requirements of “play the right roles, persist in assigned tasks”. Develop scientific working methods and styles with the spirit of innovation, being close to reality, drastic, effective, unobtrusive; strengthen inspection and supervision, and strictly maintain party discipline.
Fourth, especially, it is necessary to renew and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of decentralization and deconcentration, assignment and coordination, in association with strengthening inspection and supervision among institutions and units under the Government, local authorities and between these actors and that of the Party, National Assembly, People’s Councils at all levels, judicial system and the Vietnam Fatherland Front, socio-political organizations; “ensure the whole system of organizational apparatus always operates in a synchronous and unified way; avoid the dilemmas of “internal disagreement”, “your right, my right”, “every man on himself” (23).
Fifth, it is required to pay more attention to administrative reform in the Party and the state apparatus by promoting publication and transparency of regulations and working processes, and furthering technology application in leadership, management and administration; improving the capacity, effectiveness of the organizational apparatus and cadres; building a scientific basis and effectively organizing the implementation of programs and work plans, upholding the responsibility of self-inspection, self-assessment and accountability of collectives and individuals. Party committees, organizations, institutions, collectives and individuals leadership at all levels and branches should spend adequate time focusing on research, consideration and handling in a fundamental and methodical way worrisome socio-economic issues, long backlog, avoiding ostentation or dodging, extruding responsibility.
8. Further strengthening Party inspection, supervision and discipline work
Along with thoroughly grasping and implementing the Resolution of the XIII National Party Congress and the Party’s documents on Party inspection, supervision and discipline work, the General Secretary required all levels of Party committees, party organizations and inspection committees to focus on the following performance:
Firstly, to continue to be deeply and fully aware of the position, role and importance of Party inspection, supervision and discipline as well as functions, tasks and powers of the Central Inspection Committee and inspection committees at all levels. Inspection and supervision are one of the Party’s leadership methods, an important part of the entire Party building work as leadership without checking is considered no leadership. All Party organizations and members are equal in front of the Party’s discipline and are subject to the Party’s inspection, supervision and discipline. Inspection and supervision are the “remedial sword to cure problems” (24) in the party apparatus and the entire political system.
Second, to further develop and improve the Party’s regulations and the State’s laws towards increased responsibility, renewal, and enhancement of the quality, effectiveness and efficiency with regard to Party inspection, supervision and discipline. It is required to concentrate on perfecting the inspection and supervision mechanism for personnel work and exercise of power by authoritative figures; degradation in political thought, morality, lifestyle; preventing and combating embezzlement, waste, and group interests. It is also essential to strengthen coordination between the Party’s inspection and supervision and the State’s inspection, auditing, investigation, prosecution and adjudication. In addition, it is crucial to develop a mechanism to promote the role of the Fatherland Front, socio-political organizations, the media, the press and the people in inspection and supervision.
Third, inspection and supervision must be conducted regularly, comprehensively, openly, democratically, cautiously and tightly, with warning, prevention and containment being the main factor. It is vital to uphold the principles of the Party, attaching importance to evidence, not allowing inference, imposition and prejudice, while strictly following the motto “Being active, ready to fight, educative, effective”. It is also important to get a powerful combination of construction and fighting so that construction is a fundamental task, a long-term strategy while fighting is an important and urgent mission.
In addition to effectively promoting inspection whenever signs of violations arise, it is necessary to improve the quality of compliance inspection and supervision. This is a regular, preventive, admonitory, deterrent and corrective job just to minimize violations and breaches of the Party’s guidelines and strategies of the Party, the State’s policies and laws as well as lack of examples in life for the purpose of “curing and saving people”, and retain staff. Pay attention to inspecting and supervising officials who have signs of corruption, being subject to reports or denunciation with regard to corruption, leading cadres, managers at all levels and cadres who are planned to hold leadership and management positions. Resolutely deal with organizations and individuals that commit violations in personnel work. Focus on direction and inspection in places where arise complicated problems of public concern, and in areas when the negatives and corruption are likely to occur.
When signs of violations have been found, inspectors and supervisors must promptly intervene to examine, consider and settle them; giving clear and transparent conclusions based on fairly and objectively handling these issues; Imposing sanctions must be strict and the specific results should be public on the mass media to contribute to education, deterrence, warning and prevention of violations.
Fourthly, all levels of Party committees, especially the heads, must well organize the inspection, supervision and enforcement of Party discipline according to their functions and tasks, and strengthen the leadership, direction and guidance for the Party committees and organizations at lower levels to carry out their respective inspection and supervision. Focusing on leading, directing, creating stronger and more obvious changes in inspection and supervision work in their localities, institutions and units is obligatory. It is necessary to overcome the situation of indulgence, dodging, fear of collisions in inspection and supervision. The Central Inspection Committee should enhance its leadership for the subordinate inspection committees in the latter’s inspection, supervision and enforcement of party discipline; avoiding the situation of “play it by ears”, “unequal treatment between the superiors and the subordinates” or covering up mistakes of localities, institutions and units.
Fifth, it is necessary to focus on building a team of inspection officers to meet the requirements and tasks in the new situation with the following requirements: having pure moral qualities, being honest, public spirited and selfless, having the courage to fight to prevent wrongdoings, group interests, and personal gains; inspection officers must be resilient, brave soldiers who fully understand the mechanisms, policies, the Party’s Charter, the regulations of the Party and the State; especially they must be ready to fight, be righteous and more than anyone else, be honest, clean, consistent, moral, enthusiastic, resolute and highly responsible in the profession; they must also be really exemplary in both life and work, truly fair and impartial, putting the interests of the Party, the Fatherland and the people first.
Assoc, Prof. Dr. Duong Trung Y, Vice President of Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics
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(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (14), (15), (16), (17 .) ), (18), (19), (20), (21), (22), (23), (24) Nguyen Phu Trong: Some theoretical and practical issues on socialism and the path towards socialism in Vietnam, Truth National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2022, pp.34, 29, 210, 224-225, 221, 221, 51, 37, 37-38, 277, 245 , 239, 336, 405, 412, 212, 48, 120, 96, 152.
(10) V.I. Lenin: Complete Works, Vol.2, Truth National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2005, p.575.
(11) V.I. Lenin: Complete Works, Ibid, Vol.6, p.32.
(12) Ho Chi Minh: Complete Works, Truth National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2011, p.289.
(13) Communist Party of Vietnam, Documents of the 13th National Party Congress, Vol.II, Truth National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2021, pp.234-235.
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