Deputy Head of Central Committee for Mass Mobilization: 'Leaders must overcome group interests'

“I really want leaders at all levels to talk less and do more,” Mr. Thao Xuan Sung shared and emphasized that leaders must overcome group interests.

"A person who is truly talented and virtuous will be decisive. And the difference between decisiveness and authoritarianism is only a hair's breadth, which is a challenge for leaders" - that is what Mr. Thao Xuan Sung, member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Head of the Central Mass Mobilization Commission, shared with VOV.VN reporter.

PV:Many recent incidents have shown that the responsibility of leaders and the handling of violations by leaders have been emphasized. What is the significance of this, sir?

Mr. Thao Xuan Sung:I strongly agree with the policy of the Central Committee, the Politburo, the Secretariat, especially the opinion of the General Secretary in clarifying the responsibility of the head in leadership, direction and management.

A leader is someone who is fully prepared in terms of moral qualities, professional capacity and necessary qualities to steer a group, so when he does not perform the assigned tasks properly, it is completely correct and accurate to review and hold the leader accountable, and there is nothing too harsh about it.

Mr. Thao Xuan Sung, Member of the Party Central Committee, Permanent Deputy Head of the Central Mass Mobilization Commission

The assignment of responsibility to leaders in the coming time will encourage Party committees and organizations to focus on leadership, state agencies, and mass fronts to perfect legal documents, regulations, and procedures for implementing the responsibilities and functions of leaders. And leaders themselves also want this because the functions and tasks of leaders exist, but the legal documents for leaders to be decisive are not yet complete and adequate.

A person who is truly talented and virtuous will be decisive. And decisiveness can be separated from arbitrary by a thread, which is a challenge for leaders. I have been a leader from district to central level, and I see that it depends on morality and talent. If one does not have talent and does not dare to make decisive decisions, a large number of leaders will be passive. But one should not be so decisive that they make arbitrary decisions without a theoretical or practical basis because that is very harmful, first of all it hurts the people, at the same time the leader loses prestige, and is even disciplined, both politically and legally.

In the coming time, when our Party and State continue to perfect documents so that leaders can perform well their assigned functions and tasks, the phenomenon of wrongdoing and violations in economic management and personnel management in the coming time will certainly be limited.

PV:For a long time, we have talked a lot about individual responsibility “hiding” in the collective. The report of voters’ petitions presented by the Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Nguyen Thien Nhan to the National Assembly recently mentioned the rampant situation of “sand bandits”, the press reported but many provincial chairmen remained “silent”, sir?

Mr. Thao Xuan Sung:One of the concerns of the people is the exploitation of mineral resources, including sand, in some places, which is haphazard, undisciplined, and prolonged. This is related to the responsibility of local leaders, not just this or that Ministry; of the Chairman of the People's Council, Chairman of the Fatherland Front, not just the responsibility of the Secretary and Chairman of the People's Committee. It is not appropriate to mention achievements, but when there are limitations, shortcomings, or even shortcomings and violations of the law, it is not appropriate to only blame the Secretary and Chairman.

What I want to say is that leaders at all levels must overcome group interests. People talk a lot about group interests, the backyards of this person and that person. People wonder whether this is true or not because if it is the situation of resource management, people are right to wonder. Besides, it is important to continue to systematize and perfect state management documents on mineral resources so that people can base on them to monitor.

PV:Regarding the amendment and completion of legal documents, there will soon be more specific regulations on handling civil servants who violate the law, including leaders and even retirees. What is your opinion on this issue?

Mr. Thao Xuan Sung:I think that dealing with retired people is a last resort. The most positive direction, in my opinion, is to focus on unifying and directing strongly to perfect the institutions in the implementation of public duties and tasks of the heads of Party committees, authorities, fronts, and organizations in the direction of increasing the authority of the heads, clearly demonstrating the mechanism of supervision, criticism, and suggestions.

I think every leader wants to have power. The leader is an excellent person, but to make decisions, the leader's vote must be higher than the other members. To what extent they have the power to decide, the maximum and minimum corridors must be clearly separated, then the leader does not have to go through cumbersome procedures but only reports when the task is carried out and brings results, if not, he must take responsibility. The responsibility must also be very clear, such as if not completed, he must resign.

In the current situation, I really want leaders at all levels to talk less and do more. The Central Committee focuses on making documents that the people really need based on summarizing practices and widely collecting opinions. No people want their leaders to hurt them. People really need their leadership team to be exemplary, representative, and proud of their leaders like in the village people are proud of the village chief, but how to make that person a source of pride is clearly not only education but also a system of legal documents to regulate that person's behavior.

Thus, leaders from local to central levels must carry out their duties firmly, confidently and responsibly, without having to worry. A legal corridor must be opened to allow leaders to promote creativity.

For example, I think that the head of a state-owned enterprise would not allow any failure in production and business, especially in today's fiercely competitive market.

Can a collective committee that has not yet made the right decision, and a ministry that has not yet given the right instructions to localities, discipline everyone? No. In the context of international integration, facing “huge” problems, if you are not decisive, you will lose opportunities, but if you are decisive, you will be afraid of being held responsible, so if you hesitate, you will lose opportunities.

Recently, I was very sad about some violations where the leader had a good heart but later found his thinking was not mature. “We” here does not only mean individuals but also the collective leadership and management with authority assigned by superiors to execute. Therefore, there are many issues to be dealt with.

PV:Thank you!

According to VOV