All corruption of officials has its root cause in ethics.

At the 6th Central Conference of the 13th tenure, the Central Executive Committee decided to discipline one Central Committee member by expelling him from the Party and agreed to let three other personnel stop participating in the 13th Party Central Executive Committee. These decisions demonstrated the determination and strictness of Party discipline.

Previously, the report of the Central Steering Committee on anti-corruption and negativity at the 22nd meeting (August 2022) said that in the first 6 months of the year, the Central Executive Committee, the Politburo, the Secretariat, and the Central Inspection Commission disciplined 27 officials under the management of the Politburo and the Secretariat (an increase of 20 cases compared to the same period last year).

Prof. Dr. Hoang Chi Bao - former member of the Central Theoretical Council said that from the fact that many cadres have been disciplined recently, many lessons need to be drawn, including tightening awareness education work in conjunction with inspection and control of power in cadre work.

Professor Hoang Chi Bao.

PV:What do you think about the number of high-ranking officials disciplined by the Party and criminally prosecuted since the beginning of the 13th term?

Prof. Dr. Hoang Chi Bao: At the 6th Central Conference, what the public in the Party and society were particularly interested in was the speech of the General Secretary and the announcement about the organization and personnel. There were incumbent Central Committee members holding important positions in a province who were expelled from the Party, some were even criminally prosecuted, and up to now, 7 incumbent Central Committee members, from provincial Party secretaries to leaders of agencies under the Central Government's management, have been disciplined and removed from the Central Executive Committee.

Looking straight at the truth, we must see that this is a sore point regarding the issue of cadres. Besides positive and progressive factors, there are still many people with important responsibilities and authority who have serious shortcomings and mistakes to the point of having to be disciplined, expelled from the Party, or even brought to criminal trial.

This reality shows that the struggle within the Party and within society, between the good and the bad, between the positive and the degraded, degenerate aspects, is still fierce and tense. It also clearly reveals the negative side of the market economy, which has led to the degradation of political ideology, lifestyle, and especially the ethics of some cadres. It is important to emphasize that all mistakes, shortcomings, and corruption of cadres have their roots in ethical issues. This reality also reflects the problem of ethical degradation within the Party and within society, which needs to be further prevented.

The recent disciplinary action against officials also reflects the Party's determination and consistency in resolutely handling violations to maintain the people's trust and maintain the pure nature of the regime.

Such information on cadre discipline shows us clearly that the Party is still determined to follow the path of building associated with Party rectification, and at this time, rectifying the organization, rectifying cadres, rectifying ideology and actions is extremely important. That shows that the cause of building and rectifying the Party is not simple, it encounters many difficulties and obstacles, and we must be even more determined to bring this cause to the final destination of a truly clean and strong Party to be worthy of being the leading Party in power.

PV: From the recent disciplining of officials, we have also drawn many valuable lessons, sir?

Prof. Dr. Hoang Chi Bao:Through this we also draw many lessons. The first lesson is about political courage. In such complex and difficult development conditions, if we do not maintain political courage, it is very easy to falter, including faith.

The second lesson is to regularly practice morality. Uncle Ho said: Morality is the root, the top priority, then comes diligence, thrift, integrity, and uprightness. All of the recently disciplined cases have violated morality, have degraded in political ideology, morality, lifestyle, violated things that party members are not allowed to do, especially the recent corruption and negativity cases.

We must tighten education work in conjunction with inspection. Raising awareness and setting examples of progress to promote is also very important, but not enough. The main thing is to strengthen inspection and control so that those who have made mistakes will know how to repent and correct themselves. However, there are cases where it is too late, there is no chance to correct, so the highest level of discipline is required.

Not well controlled power in personnel work

PV: From the recent cases of officials committing violations, it also shows that the work of organization, officials and the implementation of exemplary responsibilities of Party members are still limited; power in personnel work has not been well controlled... sir?

Prof. Dr. Hoang Chi Bao: The limitations and shortcomings in controlling power in the organization and in each individual are one of the fundamental causes leading to violations and corruptions like the recent ones. But in my opinion, along with that cause, there are a series of other causes that need to be identified, including moral degradation. People without morality, without exemplary behavior, especially those who do not match their words with their actions, will cause them to slide into moral degradation. That is also the fundamental cause leading to the corruption of officials like the recent ones.

Why in the recent speeches of the General Secretary, education on integrity, education on honor, and knowing fear when oneself and related people do something dishonest and unjust? When people have no self-respect, no integrity in every action, no matter how much control they have, they can still commit violations, self-destruct, and fall into degradation and degeneration.

Along with training and fostering cadres in terms of capacity and practical experience, more than ever, we must pay special attention to the issue of moral qualities in order to have a team that can meet the requirements of the new situation, especially to gain sympathy, support and trust from the masses.

PV:Returning to the very high political determination to “lock power in a cage of mechanisms”. According to you, with many regulations and conclusions of the Party along with the amendment and improvement of laws in recent times, is this “cage of mechanisms” enough to control the power of officials?

Prof. Dr. Hoang Chi Bao:Talking about institutions means talking about the legal framework, especially when our Party is discussing the continued construction and perfection of the socialist rule of law state in the new period, the legal issue is very important.

The law is supreme, in a state ruled by law, the law must be respected, people must live and work according to the law and use the law to self-check and control. Anyone who goes beyond the legal corridor commits a crime, depending on the severity of the crime, the law will punish them, without exception, without forbidden areas, regardless of who that person is.

Returning to Uncle Ho's saying: Punish all dishonest and unjust people, regardless of who they are or what position they hold. Therefore, controlling power and "locking power in a cage of mechanisms" is necessary and correct.

To do so, we must synchronize all laws, that is, have a strong and sufficient system of laws to enforce, the root of which is the Constitution, and the Party's charter, along with a system of sanctions, strong measures, and strict handling, which cannot be lenient. Not to mention the need to strongly mobilize public opinion to create consensus in critical voices, which will lead to a reduction in pressure for wrongdoings and ambiguities.

Use the Party's principles and apply the power and effectiveness of the law to educate cadres and party members, and control those with important responsibilities. Along with that, strengthen the practice of democracy in society to prevent negativity and violations.

PV: Thank you sir./.