Mr. Pham The Duyet: 'Good criticism and self-criticism from above will be an example for those below'

Mr. Pham The Duyet: The role of the leader and superiors will have a great impact on the subordinates. If the superiors do well, they will be an example for the subordinates.

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In the Party's Central Resolutions, criticism and self-criticism have always been one of the contents that our Party pays special attention to. To effectively carry out criticism and self-criticism, according to Mr. Pham The Duyet, former Standing Member of the Politburo, former Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the role of the leader and superiors will have a great impact on the subordinates, and good performance by superiors will set an example for the subordinates.

PV:Our Party considers criticism and self-criticism to be one of the important measures to prevent the degradation of political ideology, morality, and lifestyle. What is the connection between criticism and self-criticism today and the manifestations of degradation of political ideology, morality, and lifestyle that our Party has pointed out?

Mr. Pham The Duyet:If we talk about criticism and self-criticism in each Party committee and each Party organization, then at present, in general, it is still weak, not strong. If compared to the past, criticism and self-criticism work is better, but it still has not created a common movement, has not created common activities and actions, so it cannot be said that criticism and self-criticism have been done well.

Mr. Pham The Duyet, former Standing Member of the Politburo, former Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front

President Ho Chi Minh advised that criticism and self-criticism are the sharpest weapons to help our Party become stronger and more developed, and to further enhance the Party's capacity and fighting power. Therefore, to practice criticism and self-criticism, each Party member must look in the mirror every day, self-criticize, and relate it to his or her own work.

Compared with work in society, of course it is impossible to avoid all shortcomings and weaknesses, but in that, due to the leadership, self-criticism, and clarification of responsibilities of those responsible and responsible levels today, I personally think it is weak.

Resolution 4 of the 12th Central Committee also emphasized that self-criticism and criticism in many places are formalistic, there is still a state of deference, avoidance, fear of conflict, some cadres and party members lack the self-awareness to recognize their shortcomings and responsibilities in the assigned work. The division of authority, responsibility, and working relationship between the head and the collective Party Committee, leadership of the agency, and unit is not clear.

PV:Formal criticism and self-criticism, even “criticism in the form of praise” has become an inherent disease in many agencies and units today. So, do you think there is a solution to eliminate it?

Mr. Pham The Duyet:This issue is about ideology, morality, and lifestyle. Uncle Ho often said that cadres must have both virtue and talent. If one has virtue but no talent, it is difficult to do anything, but if one has talent but no virtue, one cannot do anything. The degradation of morality and lifestyle is the most important manifestation leading to degeneration. That is the root of the problem. Self-interest, localism, emphasis on personal status, personal exaltation, and false pride all come from the degeneration of the moral qualities of revolutionaries.

If you don't know how to overcome your shortcomings, it's easy to end up with less criticism and more flattery to include yourself.

These manifestations are clearly happening in many places now. Looking at every locality, every ministry, there are problems, it is difficult to say that we have done a good job of criticism and self-criticism. The recent incidents such as in Yen Bai, Ha Tinh, Hau Giang... compared to before, I think this is abnormal, worth thinking about. If these situations are not handled well, opposing forces and bad elements will take advantage of and incite, which is very disadvantageous.

To carry out criticism and self-criticism, each cadre and party member should reflect on the lives of over 90 million people, reflect on the country's circumstances, reflect on their daily work, frankly recognize their own shortcomings, see for themselves how to live properly as a leader and a party member, and fulfill their oaths before the Party and the people.

PV:In each meeting, the role of the leader is very important, they are the ones who hold the scales for criticism and self-criticism of cadres and party members. With the current state of criticism and self-criticism, the role of the leader can be said to not be performed well, right sir?

Mr. Pham The Duyet:I think that's how it is now. The role of the leader, of the superior, will have a huge impact on the subordinates. If the superiors do well, they will be an example for the subordinates.

During his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh once emphasized that "the purpose of criticism is to help each other improve and progress. The purpose is to unite and unify internally. Therefore, criticizing oneself as well as criticizing others must clearly point out both advantages and disadvantages. Criticize actions, not people."

During our time, there were also times when we had to fight very frankly internally, but we still kept our loyalty and love intact, not because the fight led to misunderstandings and treated each other personally.

PVSir, in the current situation, how important are criticism and self-criticism in evaluating and using cadres?

Mr. Pham The Duyet:Criticism and self-criticism are very important issues. Only by doing criticism and self-criticism well can we clearly identify signs of ideological and moral degradation, signs of group interests or corruption. Also, doing this work well can we see who is taking power for themselves, their families, their wives and children, who has a close relationship with the people or is it just an administrative formality...

In criticism and self-criticism, one must be steadfast and straightforward in order to clarify what is right and wrong. Cadres and party members must point out to each other their shortcomings, only then can they overcome themselves.

PV: Thank you very much./.

According to VOV