Standards are needed to firmly establish the “root of all work” - Lesson 3: “Wash your face every day” to avoid “dirt”

Negligence and its unfortunate consequences

In fact, to have the foundation, potential, position and prestige as today, our Party has seriously and effectively implemented its principles, including the principles of self-criticism and criticism. Revolutionary ethical standards as stated in Regulation 144 are focused on implementing regularly and continuously. Self-examination, self-correction, seriously reviewing oneself and the results of work to find the causes of both successes and limitations and find ways to promote, encourage and promote positive results, at the same time finding solutions to overcome shortcomings and mistakes that have been made are always highly valued. However, not every individual or collective considers this as a "daily face-washing" task.

Here and there, there are also neglects and inattentions in not being able to properly implement the requirements and criteria of revolutionary ethical standards, leading to mistakes and violations with regrettable consequences for many individuals, groups and at different levels. Because of not paying attention to "daily face washing", not self-examination and self-correction, many cadres and party members, including cadres under the management of the Politburo and the Secretariat, have made extremely regrettable mistakes and shortcomings, causing many people to be caught up in the law, tarnishing the image of cadres and party members, affecting the prestige of the Party, and reducing the people's trust in the Party.

It is clear that many cadres and party members have been indifferent, taken lightly the practice of self-cultivation and training, abandoned studying to improve their qualifications, ignored principles and regulations, were not exemplary and modest, and were even arrogant, arbitrary, indifferent, and failed to properly perform the role of "servant" and "servant of the people", and did not serve the interests of the collective and the country... Since the beginning of the 13th National Congress term, the Central Committee, the Politburo, the Secretariat, and the Central Inspection Commission have disciplined nearly 100 senior cadres under the Central Committee's management; some cadres have been criminally prosecuted. This figure was given at the first meeting of the Personnel Subcommittee of the 14th National Party Congress held on March 13, 2024. Chairing the meeting, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said that there are still some cadres whose ideals have faded, whose will has diminished, who work superficially, who are afraid of difficulties and hardships, and who have even degraded in political ideology, morality, and lifestyle, and have shown signs of "self-evolution" and "self-transformation". Some leaders and managers, including high-ranking cadres, lack exemplary behavior, have low prestige, and their qualities and abilities are not up to par with their tasks, violate working principles and regulations, talk a lot but do little, talk does not match their actions, are bureaucratic, distant from the people, individualistic, and are involved in corruption, waste, negativity, and group interests...

At the 41st session of the Central Inspection Commission, which took place on May 6 and 7, 2024, the Central Inspection Commission decided to discipline many collectives and individuals in Ho Chi Minh City, Bac Giang, Bac Ninh, Vinh Phuc, Gia Lai, the Government Office, and the National Assembly Office. These are all cadres and party members who have degraded in political ideology, ethics, and lifestyle; seriously violated Party regulations and State laws in performing assigned duties and tasks, in preventing corruption and negativity; violated regulations on what party members are not allowed to do and the responsibility to set an example; caused very serious consequences, public outrage, and negatively affected the reputation of the party organization, agency, and work unit.

It is very necessary to “wash your face every day”

The violations of individuals and groups have been clear and have been subject to appropriate disciplinary measures. That shows the determination of our Party in the work of Party building and rectification in general, and in the fight against corruption, negativity and waste in particular. It is worth noting that, in the context of the Central Executive Committee resolutely carrying out the work of preventing corruption and negativity, in the context of the people's trust in the leadership of the Party being on the rise, and the people wholeheartedly supporting the fight against "internal invaders", hostile and reactionary forces have distorted and distorted the truth, causing some confusion and doubt in society, including a large number of cadres and Party members.

In that context, the practice of Regulation 144 on revolutionary ethical standards of cadres and party members in the new period is extremely timely and necessary. It is an opportunity for us to demonstrate our patriotism, respect for the people, and absolute loyalty to the Party and the Fatherland. It is the work of "building a strong political stance in the face of all difficulties and challenges. Dare to think, dare to speak, dare to do, dare to take responsibility, dare to innovate, be creative, dare to face difficulties and challenges, act for the common good, for the country, for the people". It is also the practice of "diligence, thrift, integrity, impartiality and selflessness"; it is the demonstration of the spirit of "solidarity, discipline, love, responsibility"; it is the upholding of "exemplary conduct, modesty, self-cultivation, lifelong learning"... And a more concrete, vivid and practical manifestation is "being clean, not embezzling, corrupt, negative, not causing trouble or harassment. Proactively prevent and fight against corruption, negativity, degradation in ideology, politics, ethics, lifestyle, individualism, group interests, manifestations of "self-evolution" and "self-transformation" within the organization. That is also to demonstrate "honesty, frankness, objectivity, impartiality, actively fighting against self-criticism and criticism, not hiding shortcomings, not telling lies; protecting what is right, fighting against what is wrong"; being "exemplary in work and life, actively studying and following Ho Chi Minh's ideology, ethics and style. The higher the position of cadres and party members, the more exemplary they must be; superiors must be exemplary before subordinates, party committees must be exemplary before party members, party members must be exemplary before the masses"...

It can be affirmed that the practice of "washing one's face every day" to clearly see oneself, to practice well the revolutionary ethical standards of cadres and party members in the current situation is mandatory and must be carried out regularly. Only then can we promptly detect the "dirt" on our "face", thereby identifying the risks and "disease" seeds to have appropriate measures to prevent and handle thoroughly and effectively, avoiding dangers is always necessary, with the motto "prevention is better than cure"... And of course, along with that is the reminder, deterrence, and timely handling of violations, to avoid regrettable mistakes and violations at different levels and degrees. Only then can each cadre and party member truly know where they are and how to avoid the "dirt" they commit in their daily life and work. And when every cadre and party member seriously, responsibly and effectively implements the regulations on revolutionary ethical standards, our Party will be more steadfast, worthy of leadership, leading our country to continue to achieve more achievements in all fields, and increasingly have a solid position and reputation in the international arena.

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Next: Only when the "roots" are strong can the Party be strong.