Tolerance in the fight against corruption is a failure

Reality has proven that never before have people been so satisfied with the results of anti-corruption, never before have forbidden areas, secret fields, and people hiding under cards been exposed, brought to light so much, and so resolutely.

Reviewing and evaluating the results of anti-corruption since the beginning of the term, especially in 2018, General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong, Head of the Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption, commented that the anti-corruption work has been strongly implemented and achieved comprehensive results. The strong implementation and comprehensive results are demonstrated by the high political determination from the Central to the grassroots level. The prevention mechanism to prevent corruption has been built and gradually perfected through resolutions, directives and regulations.

Preventing and combating corruption is now not only the task of the Party and the Government, not only the task of all levels and sectors, but has spread widely among the people, becoming a trend and a movement in the whole society. That is why, in 2018, more than 650 party members were disciplined for corruption and intentional violations, including 38 cadres and party members under the management of the Central Committee.

That is why those who once held high positions in the Party, who thought they had a shield that no one dared to touch; those who have long used their power to manipulate others, linked links to monopolize policies, and extorted thousands of billions of dong from the people's budget for personal gain, have had to pay a heavy price with their own political lives.

That is why hundreds of cases with hundreds of subjects who ate from the people without stopping at anything have been touched by law enforcement agencies. That is why dozens of cases under the supervision and direction of the Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption, which have received special attention from public opinion, have reached the finish line with corresponding sentences for the defendants, demonstrating the strictness and equality of the law, demonstrating the spirit of fighting to the end against the evil of corruption crimes. Dozens of other cases are being expanded and newly prosecuted. The latest evidence is that Mr. Dinh La Thang and the former Deputy General Director of the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group have just been prosecuted when the Ministry of Public Security investigated the Phu Tho Ethanol case.

Therefore, the weakest link in preventing and fighting corruption for a long time, which is asset recovery, has been and is being overcome when the rate of recovery of assets acquired through corruption has reached 30% compared to 10% and more than 20% of previous years.

Corruption comes from people, from those in positions of power, except the people. Corruption is always likened to an octopus tentacle; if one tentacle is cut off, another tentacle can easily grow, more dangerous and more sophisticated. Those octopus tentacles are formed from greed, and once greed is present, it will find every way to have the opportunity and conditions to satisfy that greed.

Therefore, the transformation of corruption from one form to another, from one level to another is a big challenge. Therefore, petty corruption like flies is causing discomfort and anger among the people, making it difficult to detect, investigate, prosecute and judge corruption acts and corruption cases.

The results of the fight against corruption since the beginning of the term, especially in 2018, have created a positive impression, consolidating and multiplying the people's trust. That is also the premise and motivation for the Party, the State and the people to continue to be determined not to be lenient with the worms that harm the country and the people, determined to prevent cadres and party members from being corrupt as required by the leaders of our Party and State in 2019.