What's the point of being a public official if you're not a good role model?

General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong: "If nearly 200 members of the 12th Central Committee each uphold the responsibility of setting an example, the ripple effect will be enormous."

Demands from practice

The issue of setting a good example for cadres and Party members has been discussed for a long time and repeatedly mentioned in the Party's resolutions and regulations. However, perhaps never before has the emphasis on the responsibility of setting a good example been raised as strongly and decisively as in recent years.

At the 4th Plenum of the 11th Central Committee, the Party acknowledged: “A significant number of cadres and Party members, including those holding leadership and management positions, and even some high-ranking officials, have deteriorated in terms of political ideology, morality, and lifestyle, with various manifestations such as fading ideals, falling into selfish individualism, opportunism, pragmatism, pursuing fame, wealth, status, parochialism, corruption, and wastefulness...”. This situation has eroded the people's trust in the Party; if not rectified, it will pose a challenge to the Party's leadership role and the survival of the regime.

In the Resolution of the 12th National Congress, our Party clearly stated: "The deterioration in political ideology, morality, and lifestyle of a significant number of cadres and Party members has not been reversed; in some aspects and in some areas, it has become even more complicated."

After outlining 27 specific manifestations to identify the decline in political ideology, morality, lifestyle, and "self-evolution" and "self-transformation" within the Party, the Central Committee of the Party also affirmed that the decline in political ideology, morality, and lifestyle leading to "self-evolution" and "self-transformation" is only a short, even very short, step, with immeasurable dangers... Therefore, preventing and reversing the decline in political ideology, morality, and lifestyle among cadres and Party members, especially strategic-level cadres, is an urgent requirement in the work of Party building and rectification; it is of decisive importance to the survival of the Party.

Given this situation, at the 8th Central Committee Conference (12th term), the Central Committee discussed and unanimously agreed to issue Regulation No. 08-QĐ/TW on "The responsibility of setting an example for cadres and Party members, first and foremost the members of the Politburo, members of the Secretariat, and members of the Central Committee of the Party." Prior to this, on June 7, 2012, the Central Secretariat of the Party issued Regulation 101-QĐ/TW on the responsibility of setting an example for cadres and Party members, especially key leading cadres at all levels. Subsequently, on December 19, 2016, the Politburo also issued Regulation No. 55-QĐ/TW on some immediate actions needed to strengthen the exemplary role of cadres and Party members, in order to preserve the image and prestige of the Party… However, with Regulation No. 08-QĐ/TW, this is perhaps the first time the Central Committee of the Party has issued a regulation that specifically addresses the responsibility of the highest-ranking leaders of the Party to set an example.

Overview of the 8th Central Committee Meeting of the 12th Party Congress.

"What's the point of being a public official if you're not a good role model?"

Regulation No. 08-QD/TW outlines eight things that Politburo members, Secretariat members, and Central Committee members must exemplify and lead in implementing; it also clearly specifies eight things they must be strict with themselves about and resolutely combat. Of particular note are the regulations on: "Inconsistent speech, words not matching actions, talking much but doing little"; "Buying or assisting in buying positions, power, votes, or confidence votes"; "Promoting, appointing, or assigning cadres who do not meet the prescribed standards and conditions, especially family members and relatives"; "Corruption and bribery in all forms"...

In his closing remarks at the 8th Plenum of the 12th Central Committee, General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong emphasized: If nearly 200 members of the 12th Central Committee each uphold the responsibility of setting an example, the ripple effect will be immense, creating a strong transformation throughout the Party and the entire political system, contributing to consolidating and strengthening the trust of cadres, Party members, and the people in the Party Central Committee, the Politburo, and the Secretariat.

Elaborating on this issue, at a meeting with voters in Hanoi before the 6th Session of the 14th National Assembly, the General Secretary and President stated that the issue of setting an example is not solely the responsibility of Politburo members, Secretariat members, and Central Committee members, but of all Party members: “It must be understood broadly in this way, but the highest-ranking officials must set an example by adhering to the 19 things Party members are not allowed to do and the 27 manifestations of degradation that everyone must combat. The shared responsibility is that officials must do it; Party members lead the way, and the people follow. This time, the regulations are issued by the Central Committee, not the Politburo, so their position is much greater (...). What's the point of being an official if you're not exemplary? Therefore, we emphasize the responsibility of nearly 200 Central Committee members to be exemplary, to lead the way, and to have a high level of consensus.”

How should we set a good example?

During his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh often emphasized: Setting an example is not just about chanting slogans or speaking, but about actions and deeds. Therefore, to effectively implement the principles of setting an example, cadres and Party members must do good things in their lives. According to his view, "using the examples of good people and good deeds to educate each other daily is one of the best ways to build the Party, build revolutionary organizations, build new people, and create a new life."

The reality has shown that many ruling parties around the world have declined due to corruption and degeneration within the party, losing credibility in the eyes of the people. Deeply aware of this issue, our Party consistently focuses on Party building and rectification. As General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong said: If our Party is not truly firm in politics and ideology, not highly unified in will and action; not morally and ethically clean; and not organizationally strong, then it cannot stand firm and be strong enough to lead the country forward. Therefore, the important issue in Party building and rectification is that each cadre and Party member must first and foremost be a shining example of internal unity and moral integrity.

Commenting on the content of Regulation 08, Mr. Nguyen Tuc, a member of the Presidium of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, said that to effectively implement the contents of the Regulation on the responsibility of setting an example, the first thing is that cadres and Party members themselves must be pure-hearted and honest, not pressured by society or anyone else. "Comrades themselves must voluntarily and consciously comply and act out of revolutionary enthusiasm, as they swore when they joined the Party, not because of pressure from the organization or society," Mr. Tuc stated.

Sharing the same viewpoint, Mr. Tran Hong Ha, Central Committee member and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, stated that when one is a Party member and a leading official, if they want to inspire their subordinates and those they need to rally and encourage to follow their example, then that Party member and official must set an example themselves; they must strive to cultivate and improve themselves to truly be a role model for others. “When building an image or a movement to set an example, it is necessary to focus on criteria and conditions appropriate to each specific individual, each specific position and role. I believe that the exemplary conduct of each official, Party member, or key leading official is how we are building a stronger image and prestige for the Party,” Mr. Ha said.

At the National Conference on Studying and Implementing Resolution No. 8 of the 12th Central Committee, held at the end of November 2018, the Head of the Central Organization Department, Pham Minh Chinh, also affirmed: "Fulfilling the responsibility of setting an example demonstrates the pioneering and exemplary nature, and is a political commitment of Central Committee members to themselves and to the entire Party and people; it is about making setting an example a voluntary, regular practice and a cultural way of life for Party members in the political system." At the same time, Mr. Chinh also cited examples of simple and frugal lifestyles, such as not changing cars or renovating offices when promoted to a higher position, or giving up housing entitlements to subordinates. Although these are small actions by leaders, they have a significant impact and demonstrate the exemplary nature of the leader.

In reality, the people's trust and unwavering loyalty to the Party often stems from the concrete actions of exemplary individuals. As President Ho Chi Minh said: "A living example is worth more than a hundred propaganda speeches," meaning that to guide the people, cadres and Party members must lead by example. To gain the people's trust and follow, Party members, through their actions, words, and conduct, must be truly exemplary, earning the people's confidence and support. The exemplary revolutionary ethics, political acumen, character, competence, and prestige of each cadre and Party member, especially those at the strategic level, will build strong public trust in the Party, providing immense strength and making a practical contribution to fulfilling the noble mission of Party building and rectification today.