Regular votes of confidence will alert those who have violations and shortcomings.

The Politburo has issued Regulation No. 96 on taking a vote of confidence for leadership and management positions in the political system, replacing Regulation No. 262. To clarify the new points in Regulation 96, the reporter interviewed Associate Professor, Dr. Le Van Cuong - Deputy Director of the Institute of Party Building, Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics.

Associate Professor, Dr. Le Van Cuong - Deputy Director of the Institute of Party Building, Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics. Photo: Business and Law

PV: How do you evaluate the new points of Regulation 96 compared to Regulation 262, especially the provision that the vote of confidence will be conducted periodically?

Mr. Le Van Cuong: Regulation 96 is the inheritance, supplement and development of Regulation 262. What is good in the regulations will continue to be inherited to make it better; what is lacking or weak will be supplemented by new regulations.

Regarding the time limit for taking a vote of confidence, previously, Regulation 262 stipulated that it should be taken in the middle of the term, usually the third year. Regulation 96 said that this is a regular activity and should be taken periodically, meaning every 6 months or 1 year, or even annually, not necessarily "spring and autumn twice", only once in the middle of the term. There are violations that last for a long time, but there are also violations that are temporary in nature. If we wait until the middle of the term to take a vote, it will not be accurate or correct.

Therefore, one of the notable new points is to consider voting as a regular practice, as Uncle Ho once said, we must conduct criticism and self-criticism like washing our face every day.

If this is done regularly, it will help alert officials and party members to violations and shortcomings that have just occurred. If reminded and warned, they may not lead to serious consequences or serious violations.

In other words, if we prevent, warn, and take precautions from the beginning, it will not lead to the consequences of losing jobs, people, and cadres, as well as affecting the prestige and reputation of the Party.

PV: Regulation 96 clearly states that in cases where more than 50% but less than 2/3 of the votes of confidence are low, the competent authority in charge of cadre management will remove the cadre from the planning of higher positions; consider removing the current position, assigning other work or resignation or conducting a vote of confidence according to regulations. In cases where 2/3 or more of the votes of confidence are low, the competent authority in charge of cadre management will remove the current position and assign other work (lower) without waiting until the end of the term or appointment period. How will this directly impact the improvement of the quality of work of current cadres and party members, sir?

Mr. Le Van Cuong: The new regulation is consistent and connected with Regulation 41 on resignation and dismissal of officials and Conclusion Notice No. 20 on job arrangement for officials after being disciplined.

Through voting, if someone's confidence is low, the competent authority will immediately consider resignation or dismissal without waiting until mid-term or the end of the term.

Such a regulation has a huge impact, because looking back at the old regulation, there is a loophole that if the number of votes of confidence is as low as 50%, resignation and dismissal will be considered, but during the entire period of voting in the National Assembly, even the Party did not see anyone with that level. This means that voting is just a channel for reference.

Regulation 96 has filled that gap, that is, the result of the vote of confidence is the basis for further handling measures. Only then will the regulation come into effect, having a deterrent effect, warning those who show signs of degradation, signs of violating the regulations.

PV: Also in Regulation 96, the criteria for taking a vote of confidence are demonstrated by the results of leadership and direction in implementing the Party's policies on fighting against corruption and negativity, doing things that Party members are not allowed to do, and the responsibility to set an example, the exemplary behavior of oneself and one's spouse and children in complying with the State's policies and laws. How do you evaluate the special features of Regulation 96?

Mr. Le Van Cuong:The new point compared to the previous regulation is that the voting criteria are expressed by the results of leadership and direction in the fight against corruption and negativity; maintaining contact with the Party Committee and the people of the place of residence. I strongly agree with the addition of this new point, because the supervision of the people is very profound and accurate, many cases have been rumored for a long time, until the incident is exposed, then the public opinion is seen to be correct.

In addition, if a person assigned to lead and manage allows corruption and negativity to occur in his or her subordinates, the responsibility of the leader and management is also not good. Therefore, this factor must be included in the evaluation criteria.

Setting an example and being a good example is essential. Regulation 37 on what party members are not allowed to do clearly states that if children violate it, it is the family's responsibility, and parents are jointly responsible. In the General Secretary's book on preventing corruption and negativity published recently, there is an article written 50 years ago by the General Secretary stating that a leader must be responsible, and if he is not responsible, he is not a leader.

Another thing to note is that taking a vote of confidence from only your "cronies" is very difficult. Besides, there is the transparency of information. For example, Trinh Xuan Thanh caused the loss of thousands of billions of the State, if that information was made public for the people and the cadre organization to know, then this person certainly would not be included in the list of cadres planned and transferred to the locality to continue to be appointed to a higher position.

Therefore, when implementing Regulation 96, there must be publicity, transparency and information must be correct and accurate. If information is general and vague, then evaluation and comments are often only emotional.

Organize good implementation so that regulations can soon come into effect.

PV: Regulation 96 expands the scope of the vote of confidence compared to previous regulations. Specifically, the scale is expanded throughout the entire political system, Party, State and Front agencies, and mass organizations from the central level to the level with affiliated units. What is your comment on expanding the scope of cadres and party members eligible for the vote of confidence?

Mr. Le Van Cuong: I strongly agree with the expansion of this scope. This regulation is synchronous and interconnected. The 13th National Party Congress expands the content of building and rectifying the Party and the political system. The political system under the leadership of the Party has three key components: the Party, the State, the Front and mass organizations. Therefore, it is impossible for the Party to be strong while the State, the Front and mass organizations are weak. Therefore, it is necessary to build all three components synchronously. Because in the end, those who hold key leadership positions in the State, the Front and mass organizations are all Party members.

Previously, Regulation 262 only divided into 3 groups: Politburo members, Secretariat members, Standing Committee members of Party committees at all levels and other positions. This time, the regulation is broader and more accurate, including Party committee positions and leadership and management positions in the political system; and positions of officials elected or approved by the National Assembly and People's Councils.

Furthermore, regardless of position, if a cadre has a pure and clean heart, is devoted to the country and the people, then he or she will have the conditions and opportunities to contribute to the revolutionary cause; but if the cadre wavers, degrades, or falls, he or she will find every way to profit and plunder. Therefore, in addition to Regulation 96, the Central Committee has Conclusion 14 encouraging cadres to dare to speak, dare to think, dare to do, and dare to take responsibility for the common good, and that is also a mitigating circumstance in Regulation 96.

If it can be proven that the officer has no motive for personal gain, but for the common good, then the penalty can be reduced or even exempted from discipline. Therefore, this time, Regulation 96 expanding the scope of subjects like this is very appropriate and also creates a level playing field, those who do well will be recognized, those who do not do well must know and correct.

PV: What do you expect from the change in awareness and action of each cadre and party member when evaluated by a vote of confidence?

Mr. Le Van CuongAs Uncle Ho taught us: A Party that conceals its shortcomings is a corrupt Party. A Party that has the courage to admit its shortcomings, find out the causes, and find remedies with the best medicine being self-criticism and criticism will certainly bring high efficiency.

Regulation 96 is a good medicine for cadres and party members to self-reflect, self-correct, self-train, look back at themselves to see the evaluation of comrades, teammates, and people towards themselves, and from there see what is not good and not good, then promptly overcome and correct it.

Currently, the regulations and rules are quite complete. The most important thing is how to organize and implement them well, because there are still many regulations and rules that sound good but "in the end, they still remain on paper".

Now the regulations on taking a vote of confidence are available, but how to implement them effectively and practically? Otherwise, the regulations will just be a formality and will not be put into practice.

PV: Thank you sir.