Is embezzlement, corruption, and degeneration 'self-evolution, self-transformation'?

Recently, the Central Committee has continuously disciplined many high-ranking officials, including those who are members of the Politburo, members of the Party Central Committee, holding high positions such as Secretary of the City Party Committee, Provincial Party Committee, Minister, Deputy Minister, generals, senior officers in the armed forces, etc.

Many cadres and party members, due to violating the principles and Party Charter, causing particularly serious consequences, have been disciplined by the Central Committee with the highest form of expulsion from the Party. Most notably, the case related to violations in bidding and purchasing medical supplies by Viet A Company. Regarding this case, in the National Assembly, a delegate frankly pointed out that the Viet A case did not only cause loss and waste of public funds and assets, but also caused loss and waste of other assets of much more valuable and important value, which is "wasting the trust of the people".

Mr. Nguyen Duc Ha, former Director of the Party Base Department, Central Organization Committee.

"Self-evolution, self-transformation" - an important issue of the nation

Mr. Nguyen Duc Ha, former Head of the Department of Party Bases, Central Organization Committee, said that the transformation and spread of corrupt acts shows that the problem of degradation and degeneration of a large number of cadres and party members has reached a red alert level. It is an "internal enemy" that threatens the survival of the regime.

“The degradation is not limited to any one region or level. It is present at the central level, at the local level, at the provincial level, at the district level, and at the communal level. Therefore, our Party has determined that we must fight against degradation within the Party, and if we do not fight to prevent and push back this situation, it will lead to a threat to the survival of the Party and the regime,” Mr. Ha emphasized.

Public opinion raises the question of whether embezzlement, corruption, and degeneration of some cadres and party members are acts of “self-evolution, self-transformation” or not? Obviously, this question is not without basis! Because reality shows that many cadres and party members, when holding normal positions, are very exemplary, loyal, always devoted to their work, even in combat, many are willing to sacrifice for the Fatherland. However, when holding high positions, when given the “stick” of power, being attracted and tempted by money, surrounded by the halo of benefits, they lose themselves, lose the courage and dignity of a party member.

There are also people who, while in office, show courage, speak and act according to resolutions, but when they retire, they become discontented, speak ill of the regime, slander, distort, and insult the honor, dignity, and reputation of others.

Mr. Dang Thuan Phong, Member of the 15th National Assembly. Photo: National Assembly Portal

Mr. Dang Thuan Phong, a member of the 15th National Assembly, expressed his concern about this alarming situation.

“The sad thing is that the current decline is not only happening among young party members as people suspect, but also among veterans who have a long working history and extensive knowledge. When they retire, they turn 180 degrees and look at things differently. Such ideological decline has a huge impact on society, on people's trust and thereby obscures the communist ideal that our country is striving for,” Mr. Dang Thuan Phong acknowledged.

Self-evolution and self-transformation are essentially processes of change taking place within each individual and each organization in the direction of the evil taking over, taking power, controlling thoughts, and leading actions. Therefore, fighting against “self-evolution and self-transformation” is a fight with oneself, within one’s own agency, unit, or organization.

However, the problem is: When facing challenges, difficulties, and existing enemies, we can easily see and quickly find solutions, but facing ourselves, struggling, tearing ourselves apart, and defeating ourselves is not simple. In particular, “self-evolution, self-transformation” is not only a problem for each individual and each organization, but also a serious problem for the nation and people. It threatens the survival of our Party and our regime.

Lieutenant General Nguyen Quoc Thuoc. Photo: VTC News

Lieutenant General Nguyen Quoc Thuoc, former Commander of Military Region 4, commented that if “self-evolution and self-transformation” are prevented in time, we can defeat all enemies who sabotage the country’s revolutionary cause. But when self-evolution occurs internally, it is a red alert risk. Lenin made this very clear: “No one can destroy their cause if it is not they themselves, the communists destroy their cause.

Individuals are corrupted, organizations are disintegrated and the country's political system is threatened. Those are the dangers and unpredictable consequences of "self-evolution, self-transformation". Therefore, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has warned many times: From the degradation of ideology, politics, morality, and lifestyle will lead to evolution, self-evolution, self-transformation, this is just a short step, even a very short, dangerous, unpredictable step, very likely to lead to assisting or colluding with bad, hostile, opportunistic forces, betraying the revolutionary cause and ideals of the Party and the nation".

The Collapse of the Soviet Union - A Lesson of Blood

More than 30 years ago, the incident that occurred in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics showed the peak of danger, when cadres, party members, and especially high-ranking cadres of the Party degraded, self-evolved, and self-transformed. The President of the Soviet Union abused his power and declared the dissolution of the Central Executive Committee; the General Secretary announced his resignation, ordering the Communist Party of the Soviet Union to cease its activities; the Minister of Defense of the Soviet Union announced his withdrawal from the Party and forced all soldiers to return their party cards.

Ideological degradation led to mental weakness, political degeneration, self-evolution, and self-transformation within the high-ranking leadership of the Party, State, and Army of the Soviet Union.

Without losing a single bullet or a single soldier’s life, the hostile and reactionary forces succeeded in causing the collapse of the Soviet Union after more than 70 years of existence. This is a painful lesson, showing us the unpredictable danger when the underground waves of “self-evolution, self-transformation” reach their peak. It has cut across destinies, swept away lives, and buried deep and buried the entire political system of a once powerful nation and people.

That danger shows us that self-evolution and self-transformation are not just warnings and predictions, but have been and are happening in reality. It is truly a serious threat to the path to socialism of the country and people of Vietnam. Therefore, to fight and prevent "self-evolution and self-transformation" in the current situation, we need to be proactive, attack early, prevent from afar, and first of all, implement measures to improve the "health" and strengthen the strength within the Party's "body" itself./.