New points of Directive No. 35-CT/TW on Party Congresses at all levels towards the 14th National Party Congress

On this occasion, Mr. Ngo Minh Tuan, Editor-in-Chief of Party Building Magazine, Central Reporter on Party building organization work, had an interview with Vietnam News Agency reporters about the new points of Directive No. 35-CT/TW.

Could you tell us the meaning and importance of Directive No. 35-CT/TW of the Politburo on party congresses at all levels for the 2025-2030 term, towards the 14th National Party Congress?

The Party Charter stipulates that Party Congresses at all levels and the National Congress of Delegates are held regularly every five years (twice every five years for affiliated Party cells). Party Congresses at all levels leading up to the National Congress of the Party are extensive political activities, especially important political events of the Party and the country. The Congress has the following main tasks:

Evaluate the implementation results of the congress resolutions during the term and decide on the direction and tasks for the next term; discuss and give opinions on draft documents of the higher-level Party Committee; prepare personnel and elect the executive committee, standing committee, inspection committee, and leadership positions of Party Committees at all levels; elect delegates to attend the higher-level Party Congress.

To ensure the leadership and direction of the Party Central Committee, in each congress term, the Politburo issues Directives on Party Congresses at all levels towards the National Congress of the Party; the advisory bodies of the Party Central Committee, according to their functions and tasks, are responsible for researching, developing and issuing relevant guiding documents. These are especially important documents directing Party committees and Party organizations at all levels to concretize and lead the implementation at their level, contributing to the successful organization of Party Congresses at all levels and the 14th National Congress of the Party.

To proactively prepare for the Party Congresses at all levels for the 2025-2030 term leading up to the 14th National Party Congress, right from the beginning of the 13th term, the Central Executive Committee, the Politburo, and the Secretariat have included it in the Work Program for the entire term; The Politburo has directed the Central Organizing Committee to coordinate with provincial Party Committees, municipal Party Committees, Party Committees directly under the Central Committee, relevant agencies and units to summarize the implementation of Directive No. 35-CT/TW of the 12th Politburo and develop a new Directive of the Politburo on Party Congresses at all levels leading up to the 14th National Party Congress to meet the requirements of the tasks in the current period and the next term.

The process of summarizing Directive No. 35 and developing the new Directive of the Politburo was carried out urgently, seriously, elaborately, thoroughly, scientifically, systematically, democratically, receptively, and closely following practical requirements; many conferences were held to collect comments from Party committees, Party organizations, agencies, and units directly under the Central Committee; opinions were sought from Politburo members and the Secretariat and submitted to the Central Committee for comments at the 9th Conference (with 108 comments) for absorption and completion. Through collecting comments, the Central Committee, the Politburo, Party committees, and Party organizations all basically agreed and reached a high consensus.

On that basis, the Politburo agreed to issue Directive No. 35-CT/TW dated June 14, 2024 of the Politburo on Party congresses at all levels towards the 14th National Party Congress; this is an extremely important document, clearly orienting the viewpoints, principles, goals, requirements and basic contents of preparing for Party congresses at all levels so that Party committees and organizations at all levels can thoroughly grasp, lead, direct, concretize and organize implementation at their level; ensuring synchronization and unity throughout the entire political system.

What are the new points and highlights of Directive No. 35-CT/TW of the Politburo, sir?

Directive No. 35-CT/TW dated June 14, 2024 inherits 6 relevant contents of Directive No. 35-CT/TW dated May 30, 2019 of the 12th Politburo and adjusts and supplements 9 contents, including the following new points:

Firstly, regarding requirements: This Directive basically inherits the requirements in the Directives of Party Congresses at all levels in recent terms; the viewpoints, goals, and requirements of the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, Resolution No. 26-NQ/TW of the 12th Party Central Committee on focusing on building a contingent of cadres at all levels, especially at the strategic level, with sufficient qualities, capacity, and prestige, equal to the tasks, and relevant Party regulations; at the same time, fully absorbs the direction of the General Secretary, Head of the Personnel Subcommittee of the 14th National Party Congress. The Directive sets out 7 requirements for the preparation and conduct of Party Congresses at all levels for the 2025-2030 term, including 1 new requirement stating that the direction of the Politburo needs to continue to strongly rectify and innovate cadre work and personnel preparation work.

Second, on document preparation: The Directive emphasizes improving the quality of document preparation; the process of drafting congress documents must promote democracy, collective intelligence, and maximize the contributions of Party committees, subordinate Party organizations, and cadres and Party members, while emphasizing the participation and contributions of cadres, Party members, and the people; in discussions, it is necessary to be receptive, listen, and respect each other's opinions, creating high solidarity and unity, especially on new and difficult issues.

Third, on the criteria for Party Committee members for the 2025-2030 term: This Directive basically inherits the criteria stated in Directive 35 of the 12th Politburo, Resolution No. 26-NQ/TW of the 12th Party Central Committee; the criteria for cadres stated in Regulation No. 89-QD/TW and Regulation No. 214-QD/TW of the Politburo and other Party regulations and State laws. At the same time, it supplements and specifies the regulations on the term of office for cadres recommended to run for higher positions according to Regulation No. 80-QD/TW of the Politburo on decentralization of cadre management and appointment, introduction of specific candidates: Cadres recommended to be elected to the Party Committee, leadership positions of the Party Committee, the government, the Fatherland Front, socio-political organizations (higher positions), in general, must have held the current position or equivalent position for at least 2 years; In special cases, the term of office must be at least 1 year, and the competent Party Committee appointing the cadres will consider and decide.

At the same time, the Politburo assigned Party committees at all levels to specify Party committee standards in accordance with the situation and characteristics of localities, agencies, and units, meeting the requirements of the Party's political tasks for the 2025-2030 term and the following years.

Fourthly, regarding the age for re-election and first-time participation in the Party Committee, the government, the Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations associated with the working age, which is extended according to Decree No. 135-ND/CP of the Government regulating the retirement age according to the Labor Code: Directive No. 35-CT/TW continues to inherit the provisions in Directive No. 35-CT/TW of the 12th Politburo, defining: Comrades participating in the Party Committee, the government, the Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations for the first time must have at least one full term or more; those recommended for re-election to the Party Committee must have at least half a term (30 months) or more. At the same time, supplement and adjust the regulations on re-election of leadership positions of the government, the Fatherland Front, and socio-political organizations as follows: Cadres re-elected at the Party Committee level can be re-elected to leadership positions of the government, the Fatherland Front, and socio-political organizations, but must have at least 18 months of remaining working time at the time of election or congress of each organization.

Fifth, regarding the structure, the proportion of cadres participating in the Party Committee and the policy that cadres are not local people: The Politburo's Directive clearly stipulates that it is necessary to ensure the direct and comprehensive leadership of the Party Committee in important areas and fields, but attach importance to quality, and not lower standards because of structure; it is not necessary for every locality, department, or branch to have people participating in the Party Committee; it is stipulated that the positions with a "rigid" structure participate in the Standing Committee, the remaining positions are decided by the Party Committee in accordance with the requirements of political tasks and the situation of the cadre team. Strive to innovate at least 1/3 of the total number of Party Committee members in each term; strive to achieve a rate of female Party Committee members of 15% or more and have female cadres in the Standing Committee; strive to have a rate of young cadres of 10% or more, in which the age of young cadres is adjusted and supplemented under 42 years old for the provincial and district levels; under 40 years old for commune level according to Decree No. 135/2020/ND-CP of the Government; the proportion of Party Committee members who are ethnic minorities must be consistent with the characteristics, ethnic structure and specific conditions of each locality, agency and unit. Basically implement the policy of arranging provincial Party Committee secretaries who are not local people in conjunction with the use and harmonious arrangement of local staff resources in the planning; complete 100% at district level; encourage implementation at commune level and other positions.

Sixth, on the number of Party Committee members and Standing Committee members of Party Committees at all levels: This Directive determines the number of Party Committee members at the provincial and district levels as in the 2015-2020 term and stipulates that Central officials mobilized and rotated to hold the positions of Party Secretary, Deputy Party Secretary or Deputy Secretary, Chairman of the People's Committee at the provincial level are within the number of Executive Committee members and Standing Committee members of the provincial Party Committee mentioned above. At the same time, it is supplemented and regulated more specifically: The number of Standing Committees at the district level is from 11 to 13 comrades; the number of Party Committee members at the commune level is not more than 15; the Standing Committee is not more than 5, orienting the arrangement of the Standing Committee structure for a number of specific positions and the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee concretizes, directs the Standing Committee of the District Party Committee to consider and decide on a specific structure for consistency and suitability to the situation and requirements of the tasks. For merged or consolidated commune and district party committees, the number of committee members may be greater, but must not exceed the total number of existing members before the merger, and must comply with regulations after 5 years at the latest.

Seventh, on personnel procedures: Basically implemented according to Directive 35 of the 12th Politburo and Regulation No. 80-QD/TW of the Politburo on decentralization of personnel management and appointment, introduction of candidates, at the same time supplemented to ensure democracy and strictness on the basis of clearly defining the authority of the leadership collective in personnel work, meeting practical requirements; re-election personnel procedures (2 steps, 3 steps less than the previous term) and first-time participation in the Party Committee (5 steps, including new additions of specific regulations on selection principles and the remaining ratio at each step); implementation sequence for re-elected comrades first, then comrades participating for the first time.

Eighth, on implementation: The Politburo's Directive requires Party committees at all levels directly under the Central Committee to organize the dissemination of the Directive; Central Party committees, according to their functions, tasks and powers, to guide, monitor, propagate, inspect and urge the preparation and organization of Party congresses at all levels. At the same time, assign the National Assembly Party Committee, the Government Party Committee, Party committees and agencies at the Central level, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Party Committee, socio-political organizations; Party committees, Party organizations, agencies and units concerned to direct, review, amend and supplement relevant regulations and instructions, ensuring consistency and unity with this Directive and Party regulations; Early promulgation of regulations on regimes and policies for cadres who are not old enough to be re-elected, and specific policies to build a team of leaders at Party committees and managers at all levels with sufficient qualities, capacity, prestige, equal to the task, daring to think, daring to do, daring to take responsibility, innovating and being creative for the common good.

What tasks do Party committees need to perform to implement Directive No. 35-CT/TW of the Politburo, sir?

The Politburo's Directive requires: Party committees directly under the Central Committee to organize the dissemination of the Directive and develop implementation plans at their level; lead and direct the preparation for Party congresses at all levels; do well in political and ideological work, promote information and propaganda work in conjunction with patriotic emulation movements. Establish subcommittees to assist in the preparation and organization of congresses; assign standing committee members and committee members to direct, guide and inspect lower-level Party committees (if any); organize model congresses to gain experience; proactively grasp the situation and promptly take measures to handle places with difficulties or complicated problems that arise. The Standing Committee of the lower-level Party Committee reports on the preparation of documents and personnel plans for the new term Party Committee; only when the Standing Committee of the higher-level Party Committee directly agrees will the congress be held.

Thank you very much!