Promoting democracy to select officials in party congresses at all levels

In preparation for the 13th National Party Congress, many localities have held Party cell and Party committee congresses under grassroots Party committees. The preparation and organization of Party congresses at all levels, the setting out of strategic policies and tasks, in line with the political requirements and socio-economic development of the country in the new period; the screening and selection of key leaders with heart and vision, who know how to put the interests of the country and people above all, all for the common cause are of great significance, contributing to the 13th National Party Congress being in the right direction, worthy of the trust and expectations of all levels of Party members and people nationwide.

VOV reporter talked with Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Van Phuc, Vice Chairman of the Scientific Council of Central Party Agencies about this content.

PV: At this time, localities have selected Party cells and grassroots Party committees to organize model congresses. Organizing model congresses is to see whether the direction is right or not, whether the tasks are in line with the set out or not, but in reality, the selection and organization of model congresses are not necessarily as expected, especially in terms of personnel work. In your opinion, what does that reflect in reality?

Mr. Vu Van Phuc: Before each Congress, our Party advocates holding model Congresses to gain experience before implementing them on a large scale. When holding model Congresses, we also draw lessons from successes and failures. However, not all model Congresses are as successful as expected, and there are also model Congresses with limitations, many grassroots Party organizations must learn from experience.

We have witnessed in the previous term that, because it was designated as a model Congress, the higher-level Party Committee and the Party Committee that convened the Congress prepared "too carefully", so the promotion of the democratic role of Party members and delegates attending the Congress was often limited. Therefore, the discussion on the draft documents submitted to the Congress was often prepared in advance, or according to pre-approved instructions, so delegates spoke according to a certain formula.

Regarding the election of personnel, due to “careful preparation”, delegates attending the Congress elected personnel according to the direction of superiors or the direction of the Party Committee, so deep down they were not very satisfied, not seeing that comrade as truly representing their Party Committee in the Party Committee. Although the Congress proceeded smoothly, without any problems, the results of the Congress were not as expected.

Documents for the 12th Party Congress at all levels

PV: When organizing Party Congresses at all levels this time, what issues do we need to pay attention to, sir?

Mr. Vu Van Phuc: Following Directive 35 of the Politburo on Party Committees at all levels towards the 13th National Congress of the Party, on October 18, 2019, the Central Organizing Committee issued Instruction No. 26, which specifically stipulates the establishment of the Congress personnel subcommittee, the development of personnel proposals to submit to the Congress, and the standards of Party Committee members at all levels.

In particular, this time the regulations are very specific about the age of participation in the Party Committee, including special cases. For example, in agencies, branches, the Front, and mass organizations, comrades who are leaders and also Party Cell Secretaries, Party Committee Secretaries... can continue to participate in the Party Committee if they have at least 1 year of working time left.

In theory, we have seen that after having the right direction, the most decisive and important issue is the personnel issue. Through practice in the previous term, we saw that the delegates attending the Congress did not contribute much to the draft documents. The delegates also said that the work of preparing documents for the Congress could be basically assured and the delegates almost focused their efforts and intelligence on selecting cadres to participate in the new term's Party Committee.

This is what the delegates attending the Congress are concerned about and it is also true in reality. Because cadres are the ones who propose policies and strategies, but at the same time they are also the ones who organize the implementation of policies and strategies and decisions set forth by the Congress. Therefore, cadre work is extremely important.

However, how to choose the right cadres with enough qualities, capacity, ethics, and dedication to the people and the country to carry out the task.

The 12th National Party Congress. Photo: Archive

In reality, there are also cadres who were appointed or elected in the Congress according to the correct procedures, and even before the Congress, they were evaluated very well, so they were elected with a very high number of votes. But after the cadres were elected to the Party Committee, they later became a different person, revealing limited capacity, and their qualities and ethics were not really pure, and cadres and Party members were not convinced. Reality has proven that since the 12th Party Congress until now, many cadres have been disciplined, including more than 90 high-ranking cadres. That also shows that the selection and preparation of personnel before the Congress was not correct.

PV: Corruption is like an internal enemy and fighting it cannot be done in a day or two, but if there are good, synchronous solutions and importantly, if we choose honest people, the revolutionary cause will be successful, right sir?

Mr. Vu Van Phuc: In practice, there are cases where cadres have committed previous violations, but still entered the Central Executive Committee, then became members of the Politburo. From that lesson, it is required that cadre work and the selection of Party Committee members must properly implement the principle of democratic centralism.

In previous terms, it seems that we have been more serious about the centralization. That is, the staff organization agency advises, then the Party Committee decides on the list of candidates to submit to the Congress for the Congress to elect to the Party Committee. But in my opinion, this term should promote democracy within the Party and democracy in society. I believe that cadres, Party members, and the people will discover good cadres and unworthy cadres to the Party Committee.

Promoting democracy within the Party and among the people must be carried out from the time of personnel procedures. That means before conducting personnel procedures at the commune, ward, provincial, city, and even central levels, we should conduct surveys among the people and among Party members to discover which cadres are truly worthy of being in the Party Committee.

Even when choosing the Secretary of the City Party Committee or Provincial Party Committee, it should not be just the staff organization that advises the Party Committee to choose, but should take recommendation and survey votes from the grassroots Party Cell and above. I believe that the Party members at that grassroots level will be able to introduce comrades who are truly worthy of being the Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee or City Party Committee.

The same goes for cadre evaluation. It is not only the superiors of the Party Committee and the heads of the agencies who evaluate, but also the collective cadres, Party members of the agency and the residential area. For example, there is a high-ranking cadre who goes to a residential area, drives to work in the morning and drives home in the evening, without contact with the residents. We often say that the Party must be closely connected to the people, but cadres often do not know their neighbors, so how can they be closely connected to the people? Therefore, in addition to evaluating cadres at the workplace, there must be an evaluation at the place of residence.

In addition, in the fight against corruption, we must resolutely declare the assets of officials, their wives and children, and even their relatives to see what assets the officials have before taking office, how much those assets have increased after a 5-year term, and where they come from. For example, the current salary of a Minister is only over 20 million, so where does the money come from to have many houses, cars, and send children to study abroad? There must be a reason. In my opinion, there must be many channels to promote democracy within the Party.

PV:Thank you!