What solutions can be used to push back the ideological and moral degradation of officials?

If people always fight against individualism which is expressed and concealed in many sophisticated forms, it also means that they have consciously prevented "self-evolution" and "self-transformation"...

Since its inception, our Party has been deeply aware of the particularly important role of political ideology, ethics, and lifestyle of Party members as well as of the whole society in the development of the Vietnamese revolution. Therefore, the Party has always paid attention to the work of education, building political ideology, revolutionary ethics, and humane lifestyle for Party members and the whole society.

Preventing "self-evolution" and "self-transformation": A key task

Resolution 4 of the 11th Central Committee stated: “A significant number of cadres and party members, including those in leadership and management positions, including some senior cadres, have degraded in political ideology, morality and lifestyle with various manifestations of fading ideals, falling into selfish individualism, opportunism, pragmatism, pursuit of fame and profit, positionalism, localism, corruption... This situation has reduced the people's trust in the Party, and if not corrected, it will be a challenge to the Party's leadership role and the survival of the regime. Therefore, the Central Committee requires "resolutely fighting to prevent and repel the degradation in political ideology, morality and lifestyle of a significant number of cadres and party members, first of all leaders and managers at all levels, to improve the Party's capacity and fighting strength, and consolidate the people's and party members' trust in the Party".

The 12th National Party Congress identified Party building as a particularly important task that needs to be further promoted, focusing on resolutely and persistently continuing to implement the Resolution of the 11th Central Committee, Session 4. The 12th National Party Congress has developed an important awareness of Party building when adding not only building a clean and strong Party in terms of politics, ideology, and organization, but also in terms of morality. Right in the title of the Political Report, the Congress also identified the first key task in the 6 key tasks of the entire term as "strengthening Party building and rectification". It focuses on the two most essential contents: preventing and repelling ideological, political, moral, and lifestyle degradation, manifestations of "self-evolution" and "self-transformation" within the Party, and building a contingent of cadres, especially at the strategic level.

The recent Resolution of the 12th Central Committee, Session 4, also stated that the degradation of political ideology, morality, and lifestyle of a significant number of cadres and party members has not been pushed back, and in some cases, it has become more sophisticated and complicated; corruption, waste, and negativity are still serious, concentrated among party members holding positions in the state apparatus. The situation of internal conflicts and disunity is not only at the grassroots level but also in a number of central agencies, economic groups, and corporations.

Central Conference 4, term XII.

Many party organizations and party members are still limited in their awareness, negligent, lose vigilance, and are confused in identifying and fighting against and preventing "self-evolution" and "self-transformation"; the fight against and refuting of false and distorted arguments by hostile forces, reactionary organizations, opportunists, and politically dissatisfied elements are still passive, lacking sharpness, and not very effective.

Meanwhile, the degradation of political ideology, morality, and lifestyle leading to "self-evolution" and "self-transformation" is just a short, even very short, and unpredictable dangerous step that can lead to aiding or colluding with evil and hostile forces, betraying the ideals and revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation. The above limitations and shortcomings reduce the Party's leadership role; hurt the people's feelings and reduce their trust in the Party, and are a direct threat to the survival of the Party and the regime.

Individualism is one of the potential dangers.

Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Van Phuc, former Editor-in-Chief of the Communist Magazine, said that we must ask why the degradation of political ideology, morality, and lifestyle is still serious and has not been prevented or pushed back. Is it because we have not accurately assessed the extent and nature of the situation, have not clearly identified the causes, have not proposed a comprehensive and strong enough solution, or do we lack the conditions to implement the solution?

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Van Phuc, this situation stems from many objective and subjective causes, but the main cause is subjective. In particular, the work of political and ideological education for cadres and party members has not been given due importance and is ineffective. There are signs of underestimating Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh's thought, and underestimating revolutionary ethics education. The work of summarizing practices and researching theories still has many shortcomings and is ineffective. "Along with that, the work of managing cadres and party members is lax. A number of cadres and party members themselves lack self-cultivation, training and study, allowing individualism to develop and dominate, eroding the good nature of party members."

Dr. Nguyen Dinh Hoa, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, also said that we are facing many great challenges. These include the risk of falling further behind economically compared to other countries in the region and the world, corruption and bureaucracy, the strategy of “peaceful evolution” caused by hostile forces, etc. In such a context, there are many things that “need to be done immediately” to build an increasingly clean and strong Party, and it is necessary to focus on some basic contents. Among them, it is necessary to attach importance to revolutionary ethics and the fight against individualism.

“The attitude of taking lightly the cultivation and training of revolutionary ethics, not seriously implementing criticism and self-criticism… has caused many cadres and party members to fall before the temptations of everyday life”. The failure to win, the inability to overcome the small “ego” to become slaves to personal desires in a part of cadres and party members is both the deep root and the support leading to social evils such as corruption, bribery, abuse of power, disunity… Individualism is one of the hidden and constant dangers because it lurks within each person” - Dr. Nguyen Dinh Hoa emphasized.

Eliminate corrupt cadres and party members from the Party

To effectively prevent and repel the degradation of political ideology, morality and lifestyle among a significant number of cadres and party members in the current situation, contributing to consolidating and enhancing the people's trust in the Party and the State, it is necessary to look straight at the truth to see that the deepest cause of the degradation of political ideology, morality and lifestyle among cadres and party members lies in backwardness and limitations in theoretical work, in Party building work, in the practical activities of the political system, in State management of socio-economics...

“Without a deep understanding and determination to eliminate these causes, all other solutions will be difficult to be effective, or will only be temporary and cannot fundamentally solve the problem. Overcoming these deep-rooted causes can be considered the most basic condition, as well as the most important solution to prevent and repel the degradation of political ideology, morality, and lifestyle among a significant number of cadres and party members,” Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Van Phuc emphasized.

Master Nguyen Thi Mai Anh, Communist Magazine, said that, “in the current situation, key cadres must set an example in practicing morality, encouraging the entire Party and the entire people to follow Uncle Ho’s example. At the same time, resolutely fight against signs of political, ideological, moral and lifestyle degradation, and signs of “self-evolution” and “self-transformation” within the Party.”

According to Dr. Nguyen Dinh Hoa, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, along with implementing many other synchronous measures, it is necessary to pay attention to educating revolutionary ethics for cadres and party members so that they can truly become public servants and loyal servants of the people. “If everyone is always vigilant and fights against individualism, which is manifested and concealed in many sophisticated forms, it means that they are truly conscious of reaching out to the common good, for the collective and the community. Practical experience shows that the Party becomes strong, has high intellectual capacity and fighting spirit precisely because its team consists of people who are both red and professional.”

Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Van Phuc said that, along with the drastic and synchronous implementation of a system of groups of solutions, it is necessary to really pay attention to moral education and lifestyle for cadres and party members. Improve the quality, implement in depth and integrate the contents of studying Ho Chi Minh's moral ideology with political tasks, socio-economic development programs, in different social fields, and maintain them regularly in Party activities. Supplement the moral value scale, the basic qualities of cadres and party members with the criteria: dare to think, dare to do, dare to take responsibility, have the spirit of courage to fight against bureaucracy, corruption, and lack of democracy.

“Leaders and managers must regularly contact and have direct dialogue with the people, proactively grasp the thoughts, evaluate and forecast the ideological developments of cadres and party members and have timely solutions. Resolutely fight to defeat all plots and activities of “peaceful evolution” of hostile forces. Proactively prevent, combat and criticize manifestations of “self-evolution” and “self-transformation” within the Party. Maintain solidarity and unity within the Party and consensus in society” - Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Van Phuc proposed.

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Van Phuc, along with the above solutions, it is necessary to pay real attention to improving the quality of the Party members by issuing and implementing stricter regulations on admitting new Party members to ensure quality, resolutely not chasing quantity to prevent opportunists and pragmatists from infiltrating the Party ranks. Research to have a more substantial way of evaluating and classifying Party members, capable of purifying and eliminating degenerate and corrupt elements from the Party. Do not tolerate opportunists and individualists.

Along with that, it is necessary to urgently review and eliminate mechanisms and policies that are no longer suitable. “Review mechanisms and policies and issue legal documents to strictly manage and control state capital and assets, and eliminate loopholes in laws and policies that are easily exploited by corrupt people.”

According to VOV