Public examinations are the remedy against "buying positions and power"

In recent times, shortcomings in organization, administration, and management at all levels; the power control mechanism has not been optimized, making power easily abused, and the situation of "buying positions and power" has had the opportunity to arise and become complicated.

To limit this situation, the Central Organizing Committee is organizing to collect opinions on the draft Report and Regulations of the Politburo on Controlling Power and Combating the Buying and Selling of Positions and Power in Personnel Work.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Minh Tuan, Director of the Institute of Party Building, Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, said that to control power and fight against corruption requires high determination and perseverance; at the same time, it is necessary to publicly recruit for positions.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Minh Tuan, Director of the Institute of Party Building, Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics.

PV:Sir, the Politburo is preparing to submit specific regulations on controlling power and preventing the abuse of power and position in personnel work. What is your assessment of this draft regulation?

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Minh Tuan: Corruption in personnel work is the most difficult to detect, buying and selling official positions is difficult to detect because the person who buys and sells is unknown to anyone but them. Although it is very difficult to detect, it is not difficult that we do not do it. Now we have built regulations to prevent buying and selling official positions, which are specific regulations on controlling power with the spirit that anyone, any organization, or individual who is given power must be controlled. Anyone who does not do well, or distorts it for personal gain, must be dealt with.

Previously, we always said that in the work of cadres, the issue of buying positions and power was a sensitive issue, but now we have touched on a sensitive issue, clearly defining responsibilities, powers, signs of violators and measures to handle them, even establishing an inspection team to control the reporting regime of responsibilities of the subject conducting cadre supervision is mentioned.

I think that is a good direction, but in the process of organizing and implementing, we must have courage because touching the issue of inspection, supervision and control of power means touching people with power and authority, and for people with power and authority, it is even more difficult.

So I think that regulations are one thing, but putting them into practice requires that places, organizations, and agencies be immune to negative issues. When they conduct inspections, they don't have to worry about being retaliated against or harassed. These are big issues, otherwise it won't be feasible, meaning that if the inspectors are shy, even afraid, it will be difficult for them to put them into practice.

PV:It can be seen that the “root” of corruption in the cadre team is the “ask-give” mechanism. Therefore, we must fight against the “ask-give” mechanism. So what is the fundamental solution to closely monitor power?

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Minh Tuan: We have to cover it with a mechanism, how not to ask, not to give. For example, planning is collective, after planning there must be planned training and development and the plan is decided by the collective so we cannot delegate power to someone. The collective decides and then makes it public, once it is public then just carry it out like that there will be no loopholes to take advantage of to ask or give. A collective without a plan and regulations cannot ask because there are no regulations to ask for. Therefore, the first thing is to cover those loopholes with regulations and rules. Correct any mistakes, cover any gaps, therefore a series of regulations on personnel work must be completed.

In this document, I see that it has stated quite fully the contents that must be made public, and the regulations on the responsibility regime are very clear and specific.

PV:To control power, there must be an institution, or in other words, that institution must be concretized by law. So, in your opinion, are our laws enough to “plug” the “loopholes”?

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Minh Tuan: It can be said that almost never. Because real life is always moving. No matter how strict the legal documents are, there will be people who find loopholes during the implementation process. The important thing is that we must quickly detect them and "cover them up".

The main issue is that discipline must be strict. The responsibility of party members and the people must join hands to fight. If we only "call" without any action, society cannot develop. All countries have laws and respect the law. To build good laws, we must ask for the opinions of all people and seek the opinions of scientists. If there are any problems in the implementation process, we will continue to supplement them.

PV:According to you, what is the mechanism to control power and prevent the abuse of power and position in personnel work?

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Minh Tuan: The first thing is to complete a series of processes and regulations. And accordingly, the processes must be strict and clear, with clear responsibilities and authority for each person and each step.

Second, it must be public to all subjects, the level of public disclosure must be as wide as the recruitment of positions in the agency must be public to society. As for the work of planning, appointing, and training cadres in the unit, it must be public within the agency so that everyone knows so that they can check and supervise.

Third, when it is discovered, there must be an inspection agency, and when there is an inspection, there must be handling. Responsibility to report, responsibility to explain of the assigned person. A series of tasks must be done, then the work will certainly be more orderly, no longer a private, sensitive area.

PV:What do you expect from the Politburo's Regulation on controlling power and preventing the abuse of power and position when it is passed?

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Minh Tuan:The entire Party is very determined, resolute and persistent in fighting corruption in general and corruption in personnel work in particular, and these initiatives will certainly bring a new image, new ways of doing things, and what people expect most from the Party and in personnel work is what they expect most.

I also strongly believe that this regulation, when issued, will spread to the people, party members and cadres, and we must also join hands to improve the detection of corruption and public opinion must strongly condemn the practice of seeking positions and power, considering it a very bad and shameful act. Those who have integrity when society condemns it will certainly be able to limit it.

PV:Thank you, sir./.