Preventing "running" for strategic-level staff planning

This December, Party committees, Party organizations, local leadership collectives, agencies and units are carrying out the process of introducing personnel for the 13th Central Executive Committee.

At the first meeting of the Steering Committee for building strategic-level staff planning for the 2021-2026 term, General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong affirmed: "Absolutely do not include in the planning those who show signs of political and ideological degradation, have deviant views, especially political opportunists."

General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong also stated:“This planning is different from the previous one, which is for many terms. Therefore, the requirement is to be careful, focused, but democratic, fair, objective, absolutely not biased, and not self-interested.”

The cautious steps of the General Secretary, President and the highest leaders of the Party regarding personnel work, especially strategic-level personnel, are completely well-founded.

Reality over the past years, especially a number of cases in which officials under the Central management were disciplined in the past, has shown profound lessons in the work of selecting and introducing officials, avoiding giving bad officials the opportunity to climb high and infiltrate deep into the apparatus, especially officials at the strategic level.

Not only at the strategic level, but also at all levels of leadership and management, including the grassroots level, if "political opportunities", not being pure and not wholeheartedly devoted to their work, "seep" into the leadership body will have a negative impact on the Party, and can use their power for personal gain, profiteering, and climbing to higher positions. Avoiding "political opportunities" is the best way to protect internal politics, to prevent bad elements from entering the leadership at all levels, especially at the strategic level, in order to clean up the leadership ranks.

Head of the Central Organizing Committee Pham Minh Chinh. (photo: Vietnamnet)

Emphasizing this content, at the online conference of the Party Organization and Construction sector last December, Politburo member, Party Central Committee Secretary, Head of the Central Organization Committee Pham Minh Chinh said that in December, the planning of strategic-level cadres (Central Executive Committee planning) would be completed in the spirit of publicity, transparency, equality, democracy, objectivity, fighting negativity, limiting weaknesses in planning, especially fighting against "running" for planning.

“Previously, there was “running” for planning and negativity in planning work. Now, we have to make it democratic, public, objective, especially against “running” for planning and against negativity in planning. This time, we have to be careful, methodical, and strict in terms of procedures according to the Politburo’s plan 11 and supplementary instructions 03 and 04” – Mr. Pham Minh Chinh emphasized.

Remember, at the 6th Central Conference of the 11th term, when preparing personnel for the 12th Party Congress, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong affirmed his view: "Do not let "infiltrate" into the Central Committee those who show signs of political opportunism, corruption, group interests, family enrichment...". But after the 12th Congress, personnel work still "let in" officials with violations into the apparatus, both at the central and local levels.

In reality, the situation of "buying positions, buying power", "buying planning", "buying rotation" still occurs, causing outrage in public opinion. Many cases of "lightning-fast" appointments of officials, with entire families holding official positions and entire departments holding leadership positions, which have occurred in some localities recently such as Quang Nam, Hai Duong, Thanh Hoa... have been valuable lessons in personnel work. This time, a wise and responsible choice is needed to prepare for strategic personnel.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Ha, former Head of the Department of Basic Affairs, Central Organization Committee said thatvThis strategic-level staff planning needs to learn from experience. Standards must be clear, processes must be stricter, and standards for each position must be clearer.

“Since the 12th Congress, the Politburo and the Secretariat have issued a series of stricter regulations and procedures. They say they “won’t let it slip through,” but they have “slipped through” in the past. Therefore, this time, we emphasize “absolutely won’t let it slip through.” Saying one word but implementing it is not easy,” Mr. Nguyen Duc Ha stated.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Ha, former Head of the Department of Basic Affairs, Central Organizing Committee.

According to Minister of Home Affairs Le Vinh Tan, the planning and selection of officials at all levels, especially strategic officials, should not be sequential and should have a breakthrough to avoid the situation of "queuing".

He emphasized: “Anyone who is qualified, talented, prestigious, and meets the standards should be proposed for selection. I suggest that there should be a form of discussion and a “surplus”. Those with the same standards and conditions should have the same opportunities. I think there should be no queueing, no order, and a surplus to make a breakthrough in personnel work.”

To successfully complete the process of introducing personnel for the 13th Central Executive Committee, the most important thing now is that Party committees, Party organizations, local leadership collectives, especially local and organizational leaders, must truly uphold their responsibilities and duties in reviewing and introducing personnel for planning.

Local leaders and unit organizations certainly know that if the leaders they intend to introduce in their field of work have committed negative acts, violations, or shown signs of degradation, they will definitely not introduce them into strategic planning.

The head of the organization or individual introducing personnel planning must have the heart and vision to clearly see those in lower positions who, although they have not yet "revealed" negative manifestations, are at risk of revealing signs of degradation when in a position of power.

If we can introduce talented and ethical personnel to strategic positions, we must be commended. On the contrary, we will be punished if we introduce into the organization people who show signs of degradation, corruption, disunity or political opportunism. At the same time, strategic-level cadres must have relationships with the people, must be people who understand the people, sympathize with the people, truly work for the people, and certainly not be indifferent or insensitive to the people.

Ms. Pham Thi Tuyet Huong - a party member in Quang Trung ward, Dong Da district, Hanoi affirmed that the relationship with the people is the measure of talent and ethics of future ministries at the strategic level.

According to Mrs. Huong, "The cadre team is extremely important, so we must choose them properly. In choosing cadres for key positions, in addition to knowledge, ethics is extremely important. If ethics are not closely monitored, the people's wishes will not be met. Everything must be for the people, do not have personal interests that affect the State budget, which means affecting the lives of the people.

President Ho Chi Minh once said: “Cadres are the root of all work”. Cadre work is the “key” of “keys”, deciding success or failure depends on the team doing cadre work. Organizing well the introduction and planning of strategic-level cadres is an important preparation step to have a team of cadres with enough virtue and talent for the 13th National Party Congress./.