Why do "a not small number" of officials continue to have moral degradation?

Perhaps we have not accurately assessed the extent and nature of the situation, have not clearly identified the causes, and have not proposed a system of synchronous and strong enough solutions...

Since its inception, our Party has been deeply aware of the particularly important role of political ideology, ethics, and lifestyle of Party members as well as of the whole society in the development of the Vietnamese revolution. Therefore, the Party has always paid attention to the work of education, building political ideology, revolutionary ethics, and humane lifestyle for cadres, Party members, and the whole society.

During the renovation period, due to the impact of many objective and subjective factors, the state of ideological, moral and lifestyle degradation among a large number of cadres and party members has become complicated. Party Congresses have also assessed this situation and determined that preventing and repelling this situation is both a fundamental and long-term task and of immediate significance.

Individualism erodes the good nature of party members.

The Resolution of the 4th Central Conference of the 11th tenure stated that “A significant number of cadres and party members, including those holding leadership and management positions, including some senior cadres, have degraded in political ideology, morality, and lifestyle with various manifestations of fading ideals, indulging in selfish individualism, opportunism, pragmatism, and pursuit of fame and profit…”. This situation is reducing the people’s trust in the Party; if not corrected, it will be a challenge to the Party’s leadership role and the survival of the regime.”

The 12th Party Congress document clearly stated that "The state of degradation in political ideology, morality, and lifestyle of a large number of cadres and party members has not been pushed back."

Therefore, the Central Committee requires resolutely fighting to prevent and push back the degradation in political ideology, morality and lifestyle of a significant number of cadres and Party members, first of all leaders and managers at all levels, to improve the leadership capacity and fighting strength of the Party, and strengthen the trust of Party members and people in the Party.

The 12th Party Congress document also clearly stated that "The state of political ideology, morality, and lifestyle degradation of a significant number of cadres and party members has not been pushed back; in some areas and parts, the situation has become more complicated."

Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Van Phuc, former Editor-in-Chief of the Communist Magazine, wondered, “Why is the deterioration of political ideology, morality, and lifestyle still continuing to develop seriously and has not been prevented or pushed back? Is it because we have not accurately assessed the extent and nature of the situation, have not clearly identified the causes, have not proposed a system of synchronous and strong enough solutions, or lack the conditions to implement the solutions?”

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Van Phuc, the degradation of political ideology, morality, and lifestyle of a significant number of cadres and party members stems from many objective and subjective causes, of which the subjective cause is the main one. In particular, the work of political and ideological education for cadres and party members has not been given due importance and has been ineffective. Along with that, the work of managing cadres and party members has been lax. A number of cadres and party members themselves lack self-cultivation, training, and learning, allowing individualism to develop and dominate, eroding the good nature of party members.

Prof. Dr. Le Huu Nghia, former member of the Party Central Committee and former Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, also emphasized that the current world situation continues to develop in a complex and unpredictable manner. The four risks raised by the 7th National Conference (1994) still exist, with complex developments such as corruption and waste; the degradation of political ideology and lifestyle of a significant number of Party members and cadres has not been pushed back, and internal manifestations of "self-evolution" and "self-transformation" continue to occur... In the face of such a situation, it is even more necessary for our Party, its cadres and members to improve their political mettle, intellectual level and fighting spirit. Cadres, especially key leaders and managers at all levels, must not waver in any situation.

Dr. Nguyen Dinh Hoa, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, said that the attitude of taking lightly the cultivation and training of revolutionary ethics, not seriously practicing criticism and self-criticism... has caused many party members and cadres to fall before the temptations of everyday life. The failure to win, the inability to overcome the small and selfish "ego" to become slaves to personal desires in a part of party members and cadres is both the deep root and the support leading to social evils such as corruption, bribery, abuse of power, disunity...

Resolutely and severely handle erring cadres and party members

In order to fight against the current degradation of political ideology, ethics and lifestyle among a number of cadres and party members, Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Van Phuc said that, along with the drastic and synchronous implementation of a system of groups of solutions, it is necessary to really pay attention to the education of ethics and lifestyle for cadres and party members. Improve the quality, implement in depth and integrate the contents of studying Ho Chi Minh's ideology and ethics with political tasks, socio-economic development programs, in different social fields, and maintain them regularly in Party activities. Supplement the moral value scale, the basic qualities of cadres and party members with the criteria: dare to think, dare to do, dare to take responsibility, have the spirit of courage to fight against bureaucracy, corruption and lack of democracy.

“Resolutely and immediately publicize the assets and incomes of officials, party members and civil servants. The anti-corruption agency has enough authority to carry out its duties. This agency is responsible for managing the income and assets of officials and civil servants in the political system. Strengthen the prevention, suppression and fight against bureaucracy, corruption and waste by organizing the legal system, policies and many measures so that officials “do not commit corruption” and “do not dare to commit corruption” - Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Van Phuc proposed.

Prof. Dr. Le Huu Nghia also emphasized that the lesson of our country's revolutionary process in general, and of the renovation process in particular, is that the correct leadership of the Party is the decisive factor for the victory of the revolution and renovation. Therefore, in the new period, it is necessary to strengthen the leadership role of the Party and the Party's governing capacity, and build a clean and strong Party. The Party must constantly renew itself, self-rectify itself, and improve its leadership capacity and fighting strength. Build the Party in terms of politics, ideology, organization and ethics, prevent and repel the degradation of political ideology, lifestyle ethics, and manifestations of "self-evolution" and "self-transformation" within the Party.

Among the key tasks in Party building during the 12th Party Congress, the first key task identified by our Party is "strengthening Party building and rectification; preventing and repelling the degradation of political ideology, ethics, and lifestyle... Focusing on building a contingent of cadres, especially a contingent of strategic-level cadres with sufficient capacity, qualities, and prestige to match the task".

Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai Anh, Communist Magazine, said that to strengthen the work of Party building in ethics, it is necessary to resolutely fight against corruption, strictly handle officials and Party members who commit violations, clean up the Party and State apparatus, and strengthen social relations. Accordingly, Party committees and organizations at all levels must promote regularly and continuously, avoiding formalities in the work of educating officials and Party members in ethics and lifestyle. Research and innovate appropriate forms of education, and the content of education must take Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh's thought as the basis. Link Party building in ethics with Party building in politics, ideology and organization. Building a team of cadres and party members with moral qualities and a pure and noble lifestyle. Each cadre and party member, especially the exemplary leader, with a healthy lifestyle, saying what they do, is also the foundation for building a team of cadres and party members with a strong political stance, not wavering in the face of difficulties and challenges./.

According to VOV