Streamlining the apparatus: Having 'thoughts' but not backing down!

General Secretary To Lam once stated that streamlining the apparatus of the political system is very sensitive and complicated, directly affecting each individual in the entire apparatus.

Reality shows that in "every person in the system" there is a certain gap between general social awareness and considerations related to one's own personal interests.

Most cadres and party members are aware of the necessity of Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW (October 25, 2017) of the 6th Conference of the 12th Central Executive Committee "Some issues on continuing to innovate and reorganize the apparatus of the political system to be streamlined and operate effectively and efficiently".

They also agreed with the contents of Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW that the organization of the political system in our country is still cumbersome, with many focal points; operational effectiveness has not met requirements and tasks; functions, tasks, and relationships of some agencies and organizations are still overlapping; the assignment, decentralization, and delegation of power between sectors, levels, and within each agency and organization is not reasonable; the consolidation of the organization of the political system associated with streamlining the payroll, restructuring the staff, civil servants, and public employees has achieved low results; administrative reform has changed slowly...

However, the situation has not had any real changes in quality after 7 years of our Party and State continuing to innovate and reorganize the apparatus of the political system.

On November 5, in an article on building a political system titled: “Refined - Lean - Strong - Effective - Efficient - Effective,” the General Secretary once again pointed out old shortcomings: The awareness and actions of some Party committees, Party organizations, leadership collectives, and heads of some agencies, organizations, units, and localities are not complete, not profound, not determined, not resolute, the arrangement of the apparatus is not synchronous, comprehensive, and has not linked streamlining of staff with restructuring...

There are many reasons leading to this situation, including the pull from personal interests and small collective interests.

Some individuals and organizations may enthusiastically support the general policy of streamlining the payroll and restructuring the political system when this “does not affect me,” “does not affect our unit.” Things may change when they have to “get involved.”

Officials, party members, and even leaders at all levels are also human beings, so it is understandable that they “have concerns” when their interests are affected. No one is happy when their unit is dissolved, merged, or consolidated, and they themselves cannot maintain their previous key positions, or even have to become specialists or leave the payroll...

However, “feelings” are one thing, but organizing “collective letter signing,” “collective petition writing” to send to higher-ups to “back off” when the planning scheme has been decided by the competent authority, causing interference to the common cause, is another. Putting internal stories on social networks is even more inappropriate.

When an organization or unit is established, it is obvious that the group has a reason to exist, meeting the requirements of the Party, State and society in a certain context and situation.

But when historical circumstances have changed, social requirements have fluctuated, the reason for the existence or independent existence of that unit or organization no longer exists, and rearranging to make the whole system compact, light, and "easy to fly high" is inevitable. Clinging to the past, arguing about "unique characteristics," swapping concepts, or citing the "serious consequences" in the future of dissolution, merger, and consolidation with big words only confuses but does not stop the historical process.

Personal interests must be placed under collective interests, small collective interests must be placed under the interests of the large collective, of society, of the country.

The General Secretary pointed out in his speech at the 13th Party Central Committee Conference on November 25, 2024: Streamlining the apparatus of the political system requires solidarity, high determination, courage and even sacrifice of personal interests./.