Expanding the pool of personnel nominations for Party congresses at all levels.

Delegates vote to approve the Resolution of the Party Congress. (Photo: Pham Kien/VNA)

2020 was the final year of implementing the Resolution of the 12th National Congress of the Party and the 2016-2020 five-year socio-economic development plan; it was also the year of organizing Party congresses at all levels, leading up to the 13th National Congress of the Party; the country had many major holidays and important political events, placing very significant demands and tasks on the Party organization building sector.

On this occasion, Comrade Nguyen Thanh Binh - Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the Central Organization Department - gave an interview to the Vietnam News Agency about the key tasks the sector will implement in 2020.

- Could you please tell us about the key tasks that the Party Organization and Construction sector will focus on in 2020, especially the organization of Party congresses at all levels and preparations for the 13th National Congress of the Party?

Comrade Nguyen Thanh Binh:2020 was the final year of implementing the Resolution of the 12th National Congress of the Party, and the year of organizing Party congresses at all levels leading up to the 13th National Congress of the Party.

The tasks set for Party building and organization are very challenging, requiring concerted efforts to effectively implement all aspects of work in accordance with the resolutions and conclusions of the Central Committee and Party committees at all levels; at the same time, actively preparing for and successfully organizing Party congresses at all levels leading up to the 13th National Party Congress.

In this context, the entire sector is focusing intensely on effectively implementing eight key task groups:First,Implement projects submitted to the Central Committee and Party committees at all levels according to the 2020 work program and plan, ensuring progress, quality, and requirements.SecondPrepare and organize the Party Congresses at all levels and the 13th National Party Congress well, while simultaneously promoting the effective implementation of the political tasks of the locality, agency, and unit.Third isContinue to effectively implement the Central Committee's resolutions on Party building and organization work, in conjunction with the preparation for Party congresses at all levels leading up to the 13th National Party Congress.

Fourth is, continue to build grassroots Party organizations and improve the quality of Party members.The year is, implementing a synchronized approach to personnel management and internal political security.Six is, continue to improve the quality of propaganda work on Party building.Seven is, strengthen the summarization of practical experience, scientific research, and theoretical development.Eight is, building a clean and strong Party organization.

Regarding the preparation and organization of the Party Congresses at all levels and the 13th National Party Congress, the following key points should be focused on: Providing high-quality advice on finalizing the Report summarizing personnel work for the Party Congresses at all levels for the 2015-2020 term, the 12th National Party Congress, and the Guidelines for personnel work of Party committees at all levels for the 2020-2025 term, and the 13th Central Committee; and drafting the Report summarizing Party building work and the implementation of the Party Charter for the 12th term, to be submitted to the 13th National Party Congress.

Continue reviewing the planning of Party committees at all levels, proactively advising on the transfer, rotation, and placement of cadres in conjunction with personnel work for Party committees at all levels for the 2020-2025 term, especially the placement of heads and leadership positions in State agencies for the 2021-2026 term.

Party committees for the 2020-2025 term and leaders of state agencies for the 2021-2026 term must be exemplary in intellect, character, and prestige; truly clean, strong, capable of leadership and possessing high fighting spirit, meeting the requirements of leadership in the new situation.

We must resolutely prevent the inclusion of unqualified, incompetent, and low-reputation officials in Party committees at all levels, but we must also ensure that virtuous and talented officials are not overlooked. We must proactively prevent and resolutely combat and repel subversive activities against personnel work by hostile forces, reactionary organizations, opportunistic elements, and politically disgruntled individuals, especially those originating from within the Party.

The staff branch should organize the Party Congress at its level well and monitor, understand the situation, and direct the congresses at lower levels. They should organize effective discussions and contribute high-quality opinions to the draft documents submitted to the 13th National Congress of the Party.

Delegates cast their votes to elect the Party Committee Executive Board in Chinh Nghia commune, Kim Dong district, Hung Yen province. (Photo: Dinh Tuan/VNA)

- Personnel work is always considered one of the important issues for each Party Congress. So, in the preparation process for this Congress, what aspects of personnel selection and nomination should Party organizations, especially Party committees, focus on, Comrade?

Comrade Nguyen Thanh Binh:To select outstanding and worthy individuals to participate in Party committees at all levels for the 2020-2025 term, and to thoroughly understand and closely adhere to Directive 35-CT/TW of the Politburo, Party committees and organizations at all levels need to focus on leading and effectively implementing the following contents:

First,Therefore, the preparation of Party committee personnel must be based on the planned pool of cadres; in considering and selecting personnel, it is necessary to base decisions on standards and conditions linked to political requirements and tasks, and the cadre's ability to meet those requirements. At the same time, attention should be paid to identifying and introducing new individuals who possess virtue, talent, prestige, and potential.

Proactively prepare a pool of cadres, paying attention to those in the planning pool who are young, capable, and have promising development prospects. They should receive training and development in professional skills and political theory, and be rotated and honed in practice before being considered, selected, and nominated to participate in the Party committees for the 2020-2025 term.

Thoroughly review and supplement information, and have a firm grasp of the personnel; Party members with political issues must be investigated and concluded upon by the competent authority before being nominated for election to the Party committee. The personnel plan for the Party committee must be closely linked to the personnel preparation work of state agencies at all levels for the 2021-2026 term.

SecondIn accordance with the general standards for Party committee members at all levels for the 2020-2025 term as outlined in Directive 35 of the Politburo; and closely adhering to the spirit of Resolution No. 7 of the 12th Central Committee on building a contingent of cadres at all levels, the standards for leadership and management cadres as stated in Regulation No. 89-QĐ/TW dated August 4, 2017, of the Politburo on the framework of standards for positions and the framework of criteria for evaluating leadership and management cadres at all levels; and Regulation No. 214-QĐ/TW dated January 2, 2020, of the Politburo on the framework of standards for positions and criteria for evaluating cadres under the management of the Central Committee, the Politburo, and the Secretariat; Party committees and organizations at all levels should, based on the characteristics and actual situation of their localities and units, concretize, thoroughly discuss, democratically, and unanimously agree on the standards for Party committee members and leadership positions at their respective levels; This requires clearly defining criteria regarding political qualities, moral conduct, work capacity, practical experience, reputation, work achievements, etc., to ensure they are appropriate, feasible, and meet the requirements for selecting individuals with sufficient qualities, capabilities, and reputation to fulfill the tasks and participate in the Party committee for the next term.

We are determined to prevent those with power ambitions, those who seek positions, power, votes, or structural advantages, those who are factional, parochial, or pursue group interests, those who are ideologically and morally corrupt, those who are prone to "self-evolution" and "self-transformation," those who are bureaucratic and corrupt; those who are conservative, stagnant, inefficient, and whose words do not match their actions; and those whose spouses or children have unexemplary lifestyles or who abuse their positions for illicit gain, from being elected to the new Party committees.

Third isThe process of nominating and selecting personnel must be carried out through a five-step personnel selection process that ensures strictness, democracy, objectivity, and fairness; for incumbent Party committee members, it is not enough to consider only the age requirement for re-election. Party committees and organizations at all levels must implement a thorough personnel selection process, conducting a careful review and evaluation in a democratic, open, and accurate manner to confirm that only those with sufficient trust, competence, and qualities will be nominated for re-election in the next term.

For comrades participating in the Party committee for the first time, based on the cadre planning resources, the process will be implemented and democracy will be maximized, with a mechanism to expand the pool of nominations and selections, creating a surplus to increase competition and interaction in order to identify and select the most deserving comrades to be nominated for consideration and election by the congress.

If Party committees and organizations at all levels fully fulfill their responsibilities and effectively implement the above contents, there will be sufficient basis to consider and select worthy individuals to be elected by the congress to participate in the Party committees for the next term.

- Controlling power in personnel work and combating corruption in appointments and promotions has been identified by our Party as an urgent requirement in the process of preparing personnel for Party committees at all levels, especially at the strategic level. Could you please tell us about the effective measures that the Central Organization Department has implemented and is guiding Party organizations to monitor, detect, and handle individuals who violate Regulation No. 205-QĐ/TW of the Politburo?

Comrade Nguyen Thanh Binh:The timely advice to the Politburo to issue Regulation 205 on controlling power in personnel work and combating bribery and corruption in appointments is one of the highlights in the Party Organization and Personnel Department's personnel work advisory efforts, aiming to concretize the Resolution of the 12th Party Congress and the Resolutions of the Central Committee and the Politburo on Party building and personnel work. To ensure the Regulation is quickly implemented in Party organizations at all levels, especially at the grassroots, it is necessary to focus on thoroughly understanding and effectively implementing the following contents:

First,This aims to raise awareness among cadres and Party members, including leaders and managers at all levels, and heads of departments, about the importance and necessity of controlling power in personnel work and combating corruption in appointments and promotions; as well as individual responsibility in implementing the Regulations.

SecondFurthermore, we must continue to concretize the principles of the Party's organization and operation, perfecting a comprehensive and synchronized system of regulations and rules on personnel work at all stages, and managing the contingent of cadres and Party members. We must ensure democracy and transparency in the processes, stages, and steps of personnel work, especially in the placement, promotion, and appointment of cadres. Simultaneously, we must strengthen regular and unscheduled inspections, supervision, and audits in personnel work, cadre building, and management; and we must prioritize both warning, prevention, and strict handling of violations.

Third isFurthermore, it is important to promote the role of elected bodies, the Fatherland Front, political and social organizations, media outlets, and the people in inspecting and supervising the exercise of power in personnel work, and promptly detecting negative phenomena. Regularly exchange and provide information to competent and responsible agencies; prioritize and strengthen information and propaganda work through mass media on personnel work, and the building and management of the cadre team.

- How will the improvement of the effectiveness and efficiency of the political system through the consolidation, reorganization, streamlining of the organizational structure, and reduction of personnel, coupled with the restructuring of the workforce of officials, civil servants, and public employees, continue to be implemented in 2020, Comrade?

Comrade Nguyen Thanh Binh:Over the past period, Party committees at all levels have advised Party committees at all levels to lead and direct the implementation of Resolution No. 6 of the 12th Central Committee with the participation of the entire political system. The organizational structure of agencies, units, and organizations within the political system has been gradually reformed, reorganized, and streamlined towards greater efficiency and effectiveness.

After two years of implementation, initial results have included reducing hundreds of provincial-level subordinate units, nearly 500 district-level subordinate units, and more than 15,000 heads and deputy heads of various levels; and reducing the number of civil servants and public employees by more than 236,000 (6.58%) compared to 2015.

To further enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the political system through the consolidation, streamlining of the organizational structure, and reduction of personnel, coupled with the restructuring of the workforce of officials, civil servants, and public employees, building upon the achievements and addressing the aforementioned limitations and shortcomings, the following areas should be prioritized for implementation in 2020: Strengthening the consolidation, streamlining, and reduction of the organizational structure and personnel, coupled with the restructuring of the workforce of officials, civil servants, and public employees within the political system, in accordance with the actual situation.

Continue to improve the State's policies and laws in line with the resolutions, regulations, and rules of the Party. Strengthen decentralization and delegation of power while simultaneously inspecting, supervising, and controlling power; promote administrative reform; and actively apply information technology in management and administration.

During implementation, it is necessary to do a good job of ideological work and address the entitlements and policies for those directly affected by the reorganization of the organizational structure and downsizing of personnel. A system of job descriptions and job classifications for cadres, civil servants, and public employees within the political system should be developed to implement the tasks and solutions of Resolution No. 7 of the 12th Central Committee on salary policy reform.

Thank you very much, comrade!