The degradation of a number of cadres and party members - the cause of the decline in people's trust

Our Party was born, giving land back to the farmers. The enslaved people became free people, masters of the country. The Party led the People to carry out victorious long-term resistance wars. Despite countless difficulties and challenges, the People still absolutely believed in the Party, followed the Party, protected the Party, even sacrificed their lives because the Party belonged to the People, the nation, and the country.

Remembering the days when the resistance war against the US ended, witnessing the indescribable joy of a unified country; then the days of “floods in the North, floods in the South, blood on the border/Hands against the sky, hands holding the country tight” - the country fell into a serious economic and social crisis. Outside was an embargo. Inside was conservatism, stagnation, confusion, “blocking rivers, banning markets”, “galloping” inflation, “selling buffalos to buy chickens” (selling buffalos and saving for a few years could only buy a chicken!). The terrible hunger of the 70s and 80s of the last century cannot be forgotten! People were bewildered. Every Party Congress was a time for people to wait, with the expectation: After independence and freedom, there will be happiness!

At the "tipping point" in the challenge of survival, fighting poverty and backwardness, from the "founding fathers" to the communist soldiers who had just put down their guns, they exhausted their intelligence in searching for theories, struggled in the reality of life, and together with the people, found a "way out".

Uncle Ho spoke at the opening ceremony of a training class for Party, people and government officials at the Central agency (February 6, 1953). Photo courtesy

Before passing away, President Ho Chi Minh called the post-war national construction "a giant war against poverty and backwardness" and advised:“During the years of resistance against French colonialism and then against American imperialism, our people, especially farmers, have always been extremely loyal to our Party and Government, contributing their resources and people, willingly enduring all difficulties and hardships. Now that we have completely won, I propose to exempt agricultural tax for one year for agricultural cooperatives to make our people happy, feel at ease, feel more excited, and boost production.”

He also advised:“In my opinion, the first thing that needs to be done is to rectify the Party, to make every Party member, every Youth Union member, every Party cell strive to fulfill the tasks assigned by the Party,...”.

From the thoughts of “the night before innovation”, “underground contracting”, “breaking the fence”, piloting,... the 6th Congress has truly brought a new breath of life. “Untying”, “innovation”, “self-rescue”,... have brought the country out of poverty. The innovation is a turning point, shifting from a bureaucratic, subsidized management mechanism to developing a socialist-oriented market economy, the innovation of foreign policy has brought our country out of the crisis, achieving many great and glorious achievements.

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Remember, since moving tomarket economy, integration, our Party once warned: Along with the cool breeze, there will be "flies and flies", negativity will invade. If we are not vigilant, it will cause adverse and dangerous effects.

The economy and society have developed strongly, and Vietnam's position has been constantly enhanced in the international arena. However, the Party's foresight and warnings have not been deeply absorbed. We have not managed, prevented, and regulated well the "dark side of the market economy". Many cadres and party members have fallen, degenerated, become corrupt, and even become depraved and violated the law.

It is undeniable that there have been achievements in Party building. In every term, the Central Committee has policies and resolutions on Party building. However, the degradation of political ideology and moral lifestyle of Party members and cadres tends to increase and worsen.

National conference to review anti-corruption work in the 2013-2020 period. Photo courtesy

From "some party members" degenerated, then "a part", and then "a not small part", and "in that not small part there are high-ranking officials". The Party's Resolution has officially recognized the situation like that. It is increasingly seen that this is a correct and accurate assessment. Just look at the cases reported in the mass media, from the South to the North, from rural, mountainous areas to urban areas, from economic management sectors to national defense and security, from commune level to central level, even Central Committee members, Politburo members,... there are officials who violate.

Sadlymany negative incidents, such corruption is rarely detected by the Party organization through activities, inspections and supervision, but mostly by the people and the press. Even through inspections and supervisions, Party members are assessed as having completed their tasks well or excellently, and the Party organization is "clean and strong", and recommendations for rewards are made.

That situation also speaks of degradation. Degradation due to deference, avoidance, complacency or not daring to speak the truth!

To put it bluntly: In terms of political ideology, the trust of the People and many cadres and Party members in the Party and State's leadership bodies has declined. No one wants this, but it is an objective reality that cannot be avoided or said otherwise. We must face this reality, understand it thoroughly, find the cause, and find the most effective solution. In the face of such a reality, as long as we continue to conceal, console, and "beautify" it, the People's trust will continue to decline. That is courage, responsibility, and a scientific approach.

Facing the truth and clarifying the truth is also a solution proposed by the 6th Party Congress. As long as we continue to avoid and conceal it, the Party organization will weaken, and the already difficult task of fighting the degradation of political ideology and moral lifestyle of Party members and cadres will become even more difficult.

Officials of Thanh Mai commune (Thanh Chuong) talk with tea growers in Da Bia hamlet. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Our ancestors advised: "First blame yourself, then blame others." Most of the corrupt and negative people are cadres and party members. A large number of cadres and party members, including high-ranking cadres, are degenerate, corrupt, and negative - they do not serve the people, they "parasitize" the people, exploit the people, so the people lose trust in the Party. They have created a danger that threatens the survival of the Party and the regime. The people will always be patriots. The people only trust the Party when the Party serves the people, "The Party's will is in line with the people's will." If the cadres of any organization are corrupt, the people's trust in that organization will decrease. That is a law.

As in the "critical" moments of difficult challenges, the People still wait and expect the work of Party building and rectification. The People want each organization and Party member to be imbued with and follow Uncle Ho's teachings: "Our Party is a ruling Party. Each Party member and cadre must be truly imbued with revolutionary ethics. Must be truly frugal, honest, impartial and selfless. Must keep our Party truly clean, must be worthy of being a leader, a truly loyal servant of the people."