Delegates attend the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam - Photo: VNA

During the renovation period, the Communist Party of Vietnam has always upheld the principles of Party building. Implementing the principles of Party building is one of the most important factors, ensuring that the Party is a tightly-knit organization, unified in will and action, clean, comprehensively strong, and capable of shouldering and fulfill the responsibility of being the sole ruling Party leading the State and society.

Firstly, maintaining the principles of Party organization and activities since the beginning of the renovation process.

One of the cores and foundational aspects of the renovation initiated by the 6th National Party Congress (December 1986) is to renovate the theoretical thinking on socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam, especially economic thinking. For its part, the Party must renovate in many aspects: renovation of its mindset, especially economic thinking; organizational renovation; renovation of the cadres; and renovation of the leadership style and task renewal.

In comprehensively renovating the field of Party building, the 6th National Party Congress clearly affirmed its steadfast stance on the Party’s organizational and operational principles: “The principle of democratic centralism must be maintained in Party activities as well as in economic and social leadership”⁽¹⁾; “Democratic centralism is the most important principle guiding all of our organizational activities, internal activities and working style. The Party’s great organizational strength lies in the full implementation of this principle”⁽²⁾; “Promoting self-criticism and criticism in the true sense is a development law of the Party, a measure of the level of democratic activities in the Party and the Party’s sense of responsibility towards the people”⁽³⁾; “Strengthen solidarity, consensus on politics, ideology and organization on the basis of Marxism - Leninism, guidelines, viewpoints and organizational principles of the Party”⁽⁴⁾. This affirmation is a particularly important basis for our Party to remain steadfast in upholding its principles during nearly 40 years of renovation.

Secondly, affirm the correctness and resolutely upholding the principles of Party organization and activities during a special period: The dissolution of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, communist and labor parties in Eastern European countries lost their ruling position, and socialism in the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries collapsed.

The disintegration of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the collapse of socialism in the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries in the years 1989-1991 created a significant shock, a particularly significant and unfavorable political situation for our Party, and the work of building socialism in Vietnam.

With a firm stance of loyalty to Marxism - Leninism in general, and the principles of Party building in particular, with political alertness and insight, the Party pointed out the cause of the Communist Party of Soviet Union’s disintegration, the collapse of socialism in the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries was not due to the mistakes of Marxism - Leninism, but due to the subjective mistakes and shortcomings of the communists, especially, the top leaders of those Parties. The primary mistake was to depart from and violate the principles of building and operation of the communist Party, especially the principle of democratic centralism. In Notification No. 172-TB/TW dated November 25, 1989, announcing the Politburo’s Opinions on a number of urgent tasks in the new situation, it was analyzed that the Parties in some socialist countries committed many mistakes and shortcomings, primarily, “The Party violated democracy, was bureaucratic, distant from the masses, led in an authoritarian, arbitrary, patriarchal manner, indulged in cult of personality, violated the principle of democratic centralism in Party activities, lacked a spirit of self-criticism and criticism; and was not sensitive to grasp and respond to the aspirations of the masses. The Party was bureaucratized”⁽⁵⁾.

The 7th National Party Congress (June 1991) affirmed: “The Party is a unified bloc in will and action, taking democratic centralism as the basic organizational principle, implementing collective leadership and individual responsibility, self-criticism and criticism, maintaining solidarity and unity within the Party on the basis of the Political Platform and Party Charter, and so on. In the current situation, affirming the above basic issues has special significance, ensuring that the renovation and rectification of the Party does not deviate from the basic principles of Marxism - Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought on Party building”⁽⁶⁾.

Thirdly, not only maintaining the affirmed principles of Party building, but also supplementing necessary new principles.

While continuing to affirm: “The Party is a unified bloc in will and action, taking democratic centralism as the basic organizational principle, implementing collective leadership and individual responsibility, self-criticism and criticism, implementing full democracy and strict discipline in Party activities; maintaining solidarity and unity within the Party on the basis of the Political Platform and Party Charter”⁽⁷⁾, the Party Charter passed by the 7th National Party Congress added: “The Party is closely bonded to the people, respects their right to mastery and is subject to the people’s supervision, unites and leads the people to carry out the revolutionary cause. The Party leads the political system and is at the same time part of that system. The Party respects the role of the State, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and people’s organizations, operating within the framework of the Constitution and law”⁽⁸⁾.

The Resolution of the 3rd Plenum of the 7th Central Committee on a number of tasks regarding renovating and rectifying the Party (June 1992) emphasized that steadfastness in the principles of Party organization and activities is a matter of principle Not only should we stay steadfast, but there should also be creative developments in the principles of Party building based on Marxist - Leninist ideology and Ho Chi Minh Thought: “Renovating and rectifying the Party proceeds on the principle of thoroughly grasping and creatively applying Marxism - Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought, persevering with the socialist-oriented renovation path; strengthening the Party’s leadership role; correctly implementing the principles of Party organization and activities; strengthening the close relationship between the Party and the people”⁽⁹⁾.

Fourthly, be steadfast and constantly concretize and perfect the content of each principle.

Principles are always abstract and not “unchangeable”, but their connotations are always evolving. Therefore awareness and concretization of principles into rules and regulations must also be constantly supplemented and perfected to suit the Party’s internal situation and the Party’s leadership practices. This is also a requirement of steadfastness. With this correct perspective, during the years of renovation, the Party exercised steadfastness by constantly concretizing and perfecting the content of each principle.

Regarding the principle of democratic centralism, Clause 5, Article 10 of the Party Charter passed by the 6th National Party Congress states: “Resolutions of Party conferences must be voted on by the majority. Before voting, Party members are allowed to express all their opinions”⁽¹⁰⁾. In the Party Charter passed by the 7th National Party Congress, in Clause 5, Article 9, regulations on democracy in the Party’s leading bodies were added: “Resolutions of the Party’s leading bodies must be voted on with the approval of more than half of the members of that body. Before voting, Party members are allowed to express all their opinions. Party members with opinions belonging to the minority have the right to reserve and report them to the superior Party Committee level until the National Congress of Delegates but shall strictly comply with the resolution and must not spread opinions contrary to the Party’s resolutions. The Committee with jurisdiction considers that opinion, and if practice proves it correct, it is accepted. Party organizations shall not discriminate against Party members whose opinions belong to the minority”⁽¹¹⁾.

In that spirit, on May 12, 2008, the 10th Politburo issued the “Regulations on questioning within the Party” (attached to Decision No. 158-QD/TW) on concentration in cadre work, Article 7 of Regulation No. 47-QD/TW dated November 1, 2011, of the 11th Central Executive Committee on things Party members are not allowed to do, stipulate that Party members (including committee members and Party members who are cadres representing the committee, the Standing Committee of the Management Committee) are not allowed “to self-nominate, accept nominations and nominate positions of state organizations, the Fatherland Front, and socio-political organizations (according to the regulations, it must be introduced by the Party organization) without permission from the competent Party organization”.

Article 2 of Regulation No. 37-QD/TW dated October 25, 2021, of the 13th Central Executive Committee on things Party members are not allowed to do continued to affirm: party members are not allowed to “self-nominate, accept nominations and nominate positions of state organizations, the Fatherland Front, socio-political organizations, and mass organizations assigned tasks by the Party and State without permission from the competent Party organization”.

At the same time, the Party encourages and protects dynamic and creative cadres and Party members. The conclusion No. 14-KL/TW dated September 22, 2021 of the Politburo on the policy of encouraging and protecting dynamic and creative cadres for the common benefit affirmed: “In the process of carrying out assigned responsibilities and duties, tasks, derived from urgent requirements and demands of practice, we encourage cadres to think creatively, adopt breakthrough methods, removing and resolving bottlenecks in mechanisms and policies, focusing on issues that have not been regulated or have been regulated but are not consistent with practice, bringing practical value and effectiveness, creating positive changes, and positively contributing to common development”.

Regarding the principle of self-criticism and criticism, to avoid vague, formal self-criticism and criticism, the self-assessment of collectives and individual cadres and party members - according to Regulation No. 132-QD/TW dated March 8, 2018, of the Politburo - has added content linking individuals responsibilities with collectives; heads, individual leaders and managers are assigned responsibility for the results and effectiveness of their localities, organizations, agencies and units individual commitments to annual self-improvement; remedying previously identified shortcomings and weaknesses confirmed by competent levels; superiors suggest reviews for collectives and individuals according to management hierarchy (when necessary); after reviewing and commenting, there will be specific evaluation and grading.

In recent years, the Party has especially emphasized the responsibility of of cadres and Party members to set a good example, especially the leaders, including the responsibility to exemplify self-criticism and criticism. Clause 8, Article 2, Regulation No. 08-QD/TW dated October 25, 2018 of the 12th Central Executive Committee regarding the exemplary responsibility of cadres and Party members, especially Politburo members, members of the Secretariat, and members of the Central Executive Committee, require members of these agencies to lead by example in: “Strictly practicing self-criticism and criticism; resolutely defending what is right and fiercely fighting against what is wrong; not competing for merit and blame. Be courageous in accepting shortcomings and responsibilities. Proactively resigning when you feel you no longer have the qualifications, capacity, and reputation to perform your duties”.

Regarding the principle of solidarity and unity, Regulation No. 37-QD/TW dated October 25, 2021, of the 13th Central Executive Committee on things Party members cannot do required Party members must not “follow suit without principled unity, be democratic in form only, protect what is correct without intervention, or overlook mistakes without confronting them” (Article 3); It is strictly forbids to “organize, instigate, participate in sectarian and local activities that cause internal disunity. Taking advantage of feedback and comments on the Party and State to attack, slander, insult, make arbitrary comments and assessments of organizations and individuals” (Article 8); etc.

Regarding the principle that the Party being closely attached to the people, the Party led the National Assembly to affirm in Clause 2, Article 4 of the 2013 Constitution: “The Communist Party of Vietnam is closely attached to the People, serves the People, is subject to the People’s supervision, is responsible before the People for their decisions”.

The Party’s principle of relations with the people was supplemented and fully defined by the 13th National Party Congress as “respecting the people, being close to the people, believing in the people, understanding the people, learning from the people, relying on the people and being responsible to the people”; the leader alone is responsible for direct leadership, direction, inspection, supervision, and is also required to periodically directly contact and dialogue with the people according to Regulation No. 11-QD/TW dated February 18, 2019 of the 12th Politburo on the responsibilities of the committee head in welcoming people, having direct dialogue with people and handling people’s feedback and recommendations.

The relationship between the Party and the people was regulated in the “Regulations on public relations of the political system” issued together with Decision No. 290-QD/TW dated February 25, 2010 of the 10th Politburo; the “Regulations on social supervision and criticism of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations” issued together with Decision No. 217-QD/TW dated December 12, 2013 of the 11th Politburo; the “Regulations on the participation of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, socio-political organizations and people in contributing to building the Party and government” issued together with Decision No. 218-QD/TW dated December 12, 2013 of the 11th Politburo; Conclusion No. 03-KL/TW dated May 13, 2016 of the Secretariat on continuing to implement Decision No. 290-QD/TW of the 10th Politburo on the “Regulations on public relations of the political system”; the “Regulations on public relations of the political system” issued together with Decision No. 23-QD/TW dated July 30, 2021 of the 13th Politburo; etc.

Regarding the principle that the Party operates within the framework of the Constitution and law, Article 10 of the Party Charter passed by the 6th National Party Congress did not mention the relationship between the Party’s resolutions and the law, so Clause 6, Article 9 of the Party Charter passed by the 7th Congress regulated: “Party organizations decide on issues within their scope of authority, but must not violate the Party’s principles, guidelines, policies, or resolutions of superiors, but also must not violate the State law”⁽¹²⁾. In particular, the Party led the National Assembly to affirm in Clause 3, Article 4 of the 2013 Constitution: “Party organizations and members of the Communist Party of Vietnam operate within the framework of the Constitution and law”.

The relationship between the Party and the State, the Fatherland Front, and socio-political organizations is expressed centrally in the working regulations of the Party leadership agencies. In recent years, the Party has focused on the issue of building and implementing working regulations for committees, Party unions, civil affairs committees, and working coordination regulations between Party leadership agencies at the same level. These regulations are considered the embodiment and specific application of the Party’s organizational principles and operations. This includes how Party organizations and members operate within the framework of the Constitution and the law. The working regulations are an important basis for evaluating, checking and concluding violations (if any). Any Party organization or Party member who violates these working regulations also violate the Party’s principles. In case of serious violations, they will be disciplined.

Fifthly, promptly correct erroneous perceptions and handle manifestations of violation of Party building principles; resolutely fight against the arguments of hostile forces that distort and reject principles.

Right before entering the renovation period, the Party recognized the necessity of correcting violations of the principles of Party organization and activities. Concluding the discussion session of the 10th Plenum of the 5th Central Committee on June 5, 1986 on the Draft Political Report submitted to the 6th National Party Congress, the Central Executive Committee requested: “Emphasizing the correct implementation of Party activity principles, especially the principles of democratic centralism and collective leadership, overcoming violations of the principles of Party activity from top to bottom”⁽¹³⁾.

The political report at the 6th National Party Congress clearly pointed out the shortcomings: “In the Party committees and units, there are violations of the Leninist principles in Party activities, especially, the principles of democratic centralism and collective leadership individual responsibility, the minority obeying the majority, subordinates obeying superiors, and the entire Party obeying the Central Committee”⁽¹⁴⁾. The Resolution of the 5th Plenum of the 6th Central Committee dated June 20, 1988, on a number of urgent issues about Party building, ensuring the implementation of the Resolution of the 6th National Party Congress pointed out the shortcomings: “Principles of organization and Party activities are not strictly followed; the Party lacks democracy, lacks centralism, discipline is slack, and so on. The phenomenon of disunity is quite common, in seriously some places, and so on. The relationship between the Party and the masses is eroded, the Party’s reputation has seriously declined”⁽¹⁵⁾; among them, violation of the principle of democratic centralism, lack of democracy, and lax discipline are among the “two most serious problems”⁽¹⁶⁾ in the work of building the Party.

Notification No. 100-TB/TW dated January 25, 1995, announced the opinion of the Secretariat on reviewing the leadership in personnel in the recent elections of the People’s Council and People’s Committee, criticizing: “some places do not strictly uphold the Party’s principle of democratic centralism; some cadres and Party members seriously violate this principle. Specifically: Some comrades were not recommended to run for election by the Committee, but when introduced by the People’s Council delegates, they did not voluntarily withdraw; there was a comrade in the organization who was asked to withdraw from the nomination list, but that comrade still did not withdraw. Some comrades agreed when discussing and announcing decisions on personnel of the Committee, but then automatically nominated other Party members who were not recommended by the Party organization, etc”.⁽¹⁷⁾.

In the documents of the National Party Congress and the resolutions of the Central Conference on Party building in recent years, there is content criticizing misleading perceptions and manifestations of violating the Party’s organizational and operational principles, for example: on the principle of democratic centralism, the Resolution of the 4th Plenum of the 11th Central Committee clearly stated: “The principle of “collective leadership, individual responsibility” in practice in many places falls into formality, due to not clearly defining the responsibility mechanism and the relationship between collectives and individuals; when there are mistakes or shortcomings, no one takes responsibility. As a result, there is a phenomenon of relying on the collective, unclear individual responsibilities, and not encouraging leaders to be enthusiastic, dedicated, daring to think, daring to do; creating loopholes for irresponsible, stagnant ways of working, or sophisticated abuse of power to pursue personal benefits”⁽¹⁸⁾.

The Resolution of the 4th Plenum of the 12th Central Committee criticized the shortcomings in implementing the principle of self-criticism and criticism: “Self-criticism and criticism in many places are formalistic; there is still a state of ragard, avoidance, and fear of conflict; some cadres and Party members lack the self-awareness to acknowledge their shortcomings and responsibilities in their assigned work”⁽¹⁹⁾.

The Document of the 13th National Party Congress pointed out one of five limitations and shortcomings of the Party building work in the last term: “The implementation of the Party’s organizational principles, especially the principle of democratic centralism in some places is not strict. In some cases, they even violate it, leading to internal disunity. There are manifestations of parochialism and group interests. The control of power is still clumsy and ineffective”⁽²⁰⁾.

The Conclusion of the 4th Plenum of the 13th Central Committee pointed out: one of the main causes of limitations and shortcomings in the work of building and rectifying the Party is: “not strictly implementing the principle of democratic centralism, not setting a good example, lacking internal solidarity, not frankly fighting against signs of degradation, “self-evolution”, “self-transformation”, and even parochialism and group interests. They are tempted by material interests, and are indifferent, and insensitive to the people’s difficulties and frustrations”⁽²¹⁾.

The struggle to refute the rhetoric of hostile forces that distort and reject the Party’s organizational and operational principles is of constant concern to our Party. The document of the 7th National Party Congress clearly stated: “We need to be wary of demagogic tactics that take advantage of the flag of democracy to cause trouble”⁽²²⁾; regarding the principle of democratic centralism, “to deny this principle is to deny the Communist Party in its essence. The Party opposes bureaucratic centralism and authoritarianism but strictly adheres to the principle of democratic centralism. Only by implementing the principle of democratic centralism can we both fight against bureaucratic centralism and a state of anarchy and factionalism, ensuring the unity of the Party’s will and actions. Only then does the Party have strength and fighting capacity” ⁽²³⁾.

In recent years, especially since the Politburo issued Resolution No. 35-NQ/TW on strengthening the protection of the Party’s ideological foundation, fighting against wrong and hostile views in the new situation, refuting the wrong views of hostile forces and criticizing the distorted perceptions of cadres and Party members about Party building, including the Party’s organizational and operational principles, have been intensified. This has become a widespread movement, which has developed intensively, and brought positive results.

In the context where our Party is determined and resolute to build and rectify a clean, strong and comprehensive Party and political system, steadfast and serious implementation of these principles is a significantly important factor n

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Received: April 5, 2023; Revised: April 8, 2023; Approved for publication: May 22, 2023.

Endnotes:

(1), (2), (3), (4), (10), (13), (14) CPV: The Complete Party Documents, vol.47, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2006, p.365, 470, 471, 478, 597, 120, 361-362.

(5), (15), (16) CPV: The Complete Party Documents, vol. 49, Ibid, 2006, p.830, 263-264, 265.

(6), (7), (8), (11), (12), (22), (23) CPV: The Complete Party Documents, vol.51, Ibid, 2007, p.209-210, 254, 258, 260, 206, 27, 32.

(9) CPV: The Complete Party Documents, vol.52, Ibid, 2007, p.192.

(17) CPV: The Complete Party Documents, vol.54, Ibid, 2007, p.204.

(18) CPV: Documents of the 4th Conference of the 11th Central Executive Committee, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2012, p.22-23.

(19) CPV: Documents of the 4th Conference of the 12th Central Executive Committee, Party Central Office, Hanoi, 2016, p.22.

(20) CPV: Documents of the 13th National Party Congress, vol.II, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2021, p. 225.

(21) CPV: Documents of the 4th Conference of the 13th Central Executive Committee, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2021, p.90.