"Party members must know how to sacrifice individualism and greed for power"

Journalist Duc Luong - former Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, has turned 75 this year. During his decades of work, whether at Truth Publishing House, the Marxist-Leninist Institute, Nhan Dan Newspaper or the Central Theoretical Council, he has always been closely associated with Party building work, especially devoted to Party development.

Looking back to the past with the "earth-shattering" August Revolution, journalist Duc Luong mused: "At that time, the Party was only 15 years old and we only had about 5,000 party members, including the number of party members who had just been released from prison.

We must look to countries in the region such as China or Indonesia, they have millions of party members, also in the historical context of the Soviet Union defeating Nazi Germany and the Japanese fascists surrendering, but why is it that only the Communist Party of Vietnam leads the national unity bloc to gain power? We must compare like this to see the strength of our nation and our Party. The whole Party and the whole people are of one mind, the whole people have one will."

“Later, the country had to face enemies many times stronger than itself. In times of danger and hardship, party members were always the ones at the forefront, willing to sacrifice, willing to shed their heads and blood for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland. No one thought about themselves or their families, other than their responsibility to the people.

Nowadays, in my opinion, being a communist, when necessary, one must also make sacrifices. Sacrifice individualism. Sacrifice the desire for power. Sacrifice the desire to get rich illegally. Sacrifice the tricks to create interest groups, the calculations to “lay a nest, build a path for children to be better than others” - Journalist Duc Luong said.

Recruiting new party members, many places chase after achievements

Journalist Duc Luong is concerned about the fact that the Party development work is too fast, too much, but the quality is not as expected. He said: “Perhaps, the origin of corruption, group interests, degradation in political ideology, ethics, lifestyle, manifestations of “self-evolution” and “self-transformation” and “rapid promotions and appointments”, “sending children and grandchildren to usurp power too quickly”, tricks to seek positions, seek power, avoid crimes, seek abroad... sometimes, originate from laxity and chasing achievements in the Party development work.

Although the Party's Charter fully records the standards, principles, and processes for Party development, not all places apply them seriously.

According to journalist Duc Luong, the recruitment of new party members in many places is chasing after achievements, fearing criticism like "why doesn't this place develop the Party while other places do it very strongly", fearing not being classified as a "clean and strong" grassroots party organization at the end of the year.

Many Party cells consider the criteria for developing new Party members to be higher than the principles of self-criticism and criticism. Some Party cells are happy to have new Party members, young Party members. But then, those new Party members do not participate in any activities. Even when they are removed from the Party or their names are removed from the Party membership list, they do not react at all.

Need to evaluate Party development work more comprehensively

Journalist Duc Luong analyzed that the current situation of people joining the Party has three trends: First, those who truly want to stand in the ranks of advanced people, trusted and honored by the people, to have the conditions to perfect their qualities.

The second trend is people who want to find a place, find a way to advance.

Third, there are those who are "immature" and are "forced" into the Party by their seniors with their own calculations, wanting to have more members in the interest group, more followers, and easy to order around... There have also been cases of arranging seats for children and relatives before legalizing "having joined the Party" with the trick of "respecting talented people outside the Party".

According to journalist Duc Luong, it is time for the Central Committee to look back and more comprehensively evaluate the Party development work, what has been and has not been done, and to tighten the discipline of the work of developing new Party members.

Those who are not truly passionate about organizing and fighting for the people, should not be invited or welcomed to join the team just because of achievements. Resolutely remove from the Party those who no longer have the qualities of a person carrying the name of the Party. There should be mechanisms, policies and honors for those who have completed the tasks of Party members..."

Looking at the recent handling of the Party and State towards officials who have committed wrongdoings, degradation, and corruption, both incumbent and retired, journalist Duc Luong could not hide his emotions. He shared: “I met friends, party members in the neighborhood, and listened to the thoughts of the shoe shiner and the motorbike taxi driver. All of them wholeheartedly supported the resolute attitude of the Party headed by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

Why do they support him? Because they believe he can do it. The General Secretary is a virtuous, honest, and steadfast man. He has done what the people want. Looking back at the history of the Party, we have only dealt with people up to the level of colonel like Mr. Tran Du Chau during the resistance war against the French (sentenced to death for corruption). Now, even Politburo members, City Party Committee Secretaries, and Provincial Party Committee Secretaries are being considered for punishment. Doing so is very painful but it preserves the Party's reputation"./.