'As a party member, I think a lot about integrity'

The Party has issued many regulations on the exemplary responsibility of cadres and party members, first of all members of the Politburo, members of the Secretariat, and members of the Central Executive Committee, but when implemented, the effectiveness has not been as expected.

Mr. Nhi Le: "As a party member, I think a lot about the word integrity."

I am concerned about a number of points. Are those regulations suitable for practice? Is the implementation commensurate with the set goals? Are the enforcers serious? And are the necessary and sufficient institutions to ensure the implementation of those regulations complete?

In just the past 4 years, the Party has issued 3 regulations on setting examples. These are Regulation No. 101 dated June 7, 2012 for all Party cadres and members; Regulation No. 55 dated December 20, 2016 on strongly strengthening the issue of setting examples throughout the Party and Regulation No. 08 in October 2018 of the Central Executive Committee.

In addition, the Party also has regulations on supervision and inspection at all levels from the Secretariat, Politburo, Central Executive Committee and all Party members.

There has never been a period when the Party has set an example so strongly and strictly in all aspects, for all types of Party members, as it does now. However, in my opinion, the implementation of decisions is not commensurate, not as desired, especially not commensurate with the people's aspirations for cadres and Party members of the ruling Party. Reality has gone very far.

Let us look back at a series of officials at all levels who were disciplined and expelled. In the history of the Party, for the first time, a Politburo member was prosecuted before the law for corruption; a series of high-ranking officials were disciplined and prosecuted...

All the “boils” that cadres and party members at all levels suffer from clearly reflect a reality: Although the Party has tried very hard to deal with degradation and degeneration, it has not yet achieved its goals. That reminds us that the goals are clear, the roadmap has been defined, but institutional issues remain.

I have mentioned many times the issue of setting an example for cadres and party members at all levels, especially according to Regulation No. 08 for members of the Politburo, the Central Executive Committee, and the Secretariat, which are the core of the Party. If the core is damaged and no longer intact, it will no longer be usable. Over the past 6 years, the Party Central Committee has been extremely worried and has sought every means to rectify the Party.

In short, a family has family rules, a country has national laws, and a Party has its Party platform. If family rules, national laws, and Party platforms are lax, there is no point in talking about a good family, a peaceful country, or a strong Party. Therefore, issues surrounding institutions are one of the fundamental policies to implement and set an example for cadres and Party members.

Over the past 6 years, the 3 regulations on setting examples at all levels show that the issue of setting examples has become increasingly important, key, and has great significance in building people's trust.

Regulation No. 08 was issued within the Party and disseminated to the entire society, in the context that we are entering a very important stage in deciding the success or failure of the Resolution of the 12th National Congress towards the 13th National Congress of the Party. The subjects of this Regulation are first of all 200 comrades of the Central Executive Committee, the elite of the Party.

This shows that it is very difficult for us to improve the Party's position, capacity, and responsibility for governance if we do not focus on improving the Central Executive Committee's responsibility to set an example.

This issue is not only a political commitment but also a moral and ethical commitment of the Party to the nation, the people, and all the people.

Regulation No. 08 focuses first of all on the Party's elite, that is, the 200 Central Committee members, whether official or alternate. Where will a nation go if its leader is not worthy of the responsibility of a leader? The same goes for a Party, regardless of its level.

Therefore, continuing to develop Regulation 101, Regulation 55, and Regulation 08 shows us the urgency of the roadmap for reforming the Party's governing methods. If we do not implement Regulation 08 well, it will be difficult to talk about the future and about Vietnam's position in the international arena.

With the spirit of building a socialist rule of law state and the spirit of respect for the law, strictly and unconditionally complying with the Party's guidelines is a vital requirement for cadres and party members.

The people's trust is the most sacred and precious asset of the Party. The people's trust is a national treasure to preserve and develop the nation and people. Trust is a strategic guarantee for international friends. There are no forbidden areas in our handling of cadres. Party discipline is equal for all Party members, whether they hold important positions or not in the Party. Only then can there be trust.

The “major cases” show that if the Party does not hold the helm firmly, it will be very difficult to maintain the Party’s cause. It is like a wave, eroding the people’s trust in the Party, the Party members’ trust in the Party, and the international friends’ trust in the Party, the consequences are unpredictable. Therefore, setting an example first of all is setting an example in handling discipline.

In the past, being in the Party was a source of pride, honor, and sacred meaning for each individual, as well as for the whole family and clan. Now, many people are “afraid” to join the Party. Is it possible that the recent lack of exemplary Party members and degenerate and corrupt cadres have caused the people’s trust in the Party to decline? That is a very thoughtful reality!

This reality is not something that has just happened. The General Secretary and President have mentioned it many times. Over the years, why has it been like this? This is not just a question for the Party, first of all, of course, it is the responsibility of the entire Party, and the concern of the people.

As a party member, I think a lot about the word integrity. Why is our Party moral, civilized, intelligent, honorable, the conscience of the times, the offspring of the nation as President Ho Chi Minh said, but here and there, our youth do not have the desire, do not yearn to stand, and are even “hesitant” to stand in the ranks of the Party?

I think there are many reasons. They see party members who live around them every day and every hour who do not really set an example, affecting their belief in the Party. There are even party members who go against morality and the interests of the people. That is why we discuss the issue of setting an example at all levels and for all subjects in the entire Party.

The Secretariat has issued a Directive on screening Party members, so that our Party is truly the quintessence of the nation, the morality of the nation, especially to maintain Party discipline.

I have been following for decades, rarely has there been a period like now, when the establishment and maintenance of Party discipline, closely combined with strict implementation of State laws in handling cadres and Party members is as strong, effective and public as it is now.

That also contributes to strengthening our Party's belief in setting an example. Dealing with Politburo members and Party Central Committee members who violated discipline right in the 12th term is the example set by the Central Executive Committee before the entire Party and the entire people.

Our Party is a revolutionary Party, a Party of action. The regulations set forth must be strictly implemented; if they are regulations, they cannot be left undone. Personally, I and the majority of the people expect the Central Executive Committee to act openly, not just talk.

The most recent conference selected and planned 250 comrades for the 13th Party Congress, in my understanding they are role models. If we do not select good role models, truly role models, then we are setting an example, and we cannot talk about setting an example anymore. Right in the 12th Central Executive Committee, only half of the term has passed, and 3 comrades have been dismissed... to see that the first action of the Central Executive Committee is like that.

Uncle Ho said a very good idea: Under the Party's flag, achievements that are not built on the people's foundation, for the people, have no meaning at all. The Party's more than 5 million members must truly be role models.