Resigning officials is helping them 'retire with honor'

The 6th Central Committee Conference, Session XIII, currently taking place in Hanoi, has made a decision on personnel work. Accordingly, the Central Committee has expelled 1 member and dismissed 3 others. The dismissal of 3 Central Committee members is a concrete step to implement Conclusion No. 20 of the Politburo, which is to encourage cadres who have been disciplined with warnings or reprimands but have limited capacity and reduced prestige to voluntarily resign. However, resignation and dismissal from duty do not mean a "safe landing".

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Vien.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Vien, former Principal of the School of Financial Staff Training, said that the handling of erring officials in the past was completely correct and serious, showing the consistency in the Party's policies and instructions that there are no special privileges, no exceptions or forbidden areas. However, he said: "If we only handle them on the Party side, let them rest and that's it, without handling them on the government side or the corresponding administration side, it would be too lenient, while the violations could affect other work."

Mr. Vien recalled that there were times when public opinion was indignant when officials made mistakes, were disciplined, and had their reputations reduced, but were transferred to work in another field or agency. Mr. Vien said that if such a handling continued, it would create conditions for corrupt and irresponsible officials to take advantage of the situation and do whatever they wanted, instead of preventing wrongdoings, which would be very dangerous.

“Officials who have made mistakes and are transferred to other positions are usually not good, very few are good. In new positions, new fields, they will plot and scheme, and will have even more sophisticated actions to hide other mistakes and shortcomings to carry out their personal, negative goals. As the old saying goes, “to hit a snake, you must crush its head”, we must be resolute, we cannot be lenient with mistakes and shortcomings”.

Sharing this story, Mr. Vu Trong Kim, National Assembly delegate of Thai Binh province, said that some officials who committed mistakes were reprimanded, warned and transferred to another position, another field, because according to regulations, they can still continue working. The transfer helps officials not to commit new violations and mistakes, while they are also competent officials.

However, on the contrary, there is also a view that, because of degradation and negativity, one is disciplined, and if one has been disciplined, one should maintain honor and integrity. And Conclusion No. 20 of the Politburo is considered as paving the way for disciplined officials, limited in capacity, and diminished in prestige, to easily resign and withdraw with honor.

Mr. Vu Trong Kim.

Removing three officials from the Central Committee after being disciplined can be considered a "rare" decision, demonstrating the spirit of setting an example for officials at all levels, sectors, and localities to use as experience in arranging and handling officials. If the Central Committee has acted strictly, then the localities have no reason to delay.

Mr. Vu Trong Kim said that, depending on each specific case, if the shortcomings of the cadres affect the interests of the collective, when they no longer have enough prestige, they voluntarily and voluntarily ask to withdraw or resign, which is very encouraging. Of course, for cadres whose shortcomings are not too serious but feel they cannot do well anymore, asking to withdraw for the sake of honor and prestige is also very welcome. "That is a good sign showing that the self-awareness of cadres who have violated and made shortcomings is gradually improving," Mr. Vu Trong Kim commented.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Vien and Mr. Vu Trong Kim both said that resignation and dismissal do not mean that officials will have a “safe landing”. If violations are discovered, the authorities can completely handle them depending on the severity.