What are the ethical standards for cadres and party members in the new period?

The Politburo issued Regulation No. 144-QD/TW dated May 9, 2024 on revolutionary ethical standards for cadres and party members in the new period, consisting of 6 articles. Of the 6 articles, 5 articles mention revolutionary ethical standards for cadres and party members and 1 article on implementation.

Specifically, the ethical standards are “patriotism, respect for the people, absolute loyalty to the Party and the Fatherland; courage, innovation, creativity, integration; diligence, thrift, integrity, impartiality; solidarity, discipline, love, responsibility; exemplary, modesty, lifelong self-cultivation and learning”. Regulation No. 144-QD/TW specifically explains each standard.

Studying the above standards, we can see that the Politburo has inherited many traditional ethical standards of lasting value previously set by the Party and President Ho Chi Minh. For example, the ethical standards of “diligence, thrift, integrity, impartiality and selflessness” were mentioned many times by Uncle Ho when he was alive and he himself was a shining example of these noble qualities.

Since the founding of the Party, our Party and Uncle Ho have always required cadres and Party members to strive for the Party's revolutionary goals and ideals throughout their lives; to uphold patriotism, national pride, and absolute loyalty to the Fatherland and the Party's revolutionary cause; to serve the Fatherland and the people with all their heart and soul; to respect, trust, be close to, and closely attached to the people; to do everything that is beneficial to the people and to avoid everything that is harmful to the people...

In addition to inheriting traditional standards, the Politburo also supplements and develops new standards that are suitable to the reality and requirements of Party building and national development. Our country is in a period of strong innovation and integration with the world, creativity is the key driving force for development, so the new standards of cadres and party members also set out the requirements of "courage, innovation, creativity, and integration". Regulation No. 144-QD/TW requires cadres and party members to 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; proactively improve knowledge, skills, working capacity, working in the international environment... In the relationship between words and actions, the regulation clearly states: "Say what you do, do what you say, say what you do".

Regulation No. 144-QD/TW has clarified and emphasized the exemplary role of cadres and party members. That is, the higher the position of cadres and party members, the higher the exemplary role they must play and not let their families, relatives, or others take advantage of their positions and work positions for personal gain, while actively encouraging their families and relatives to strictly comply with the Party's guidelines and policies and the State's laws.

Another new and progressive point is Regulation No. 144-QD-TW which sets out the ethical standard of “cadres and party members who practice the culture of resignation when they are not capable or prestigious enough”. This new standard comes from recent practice. That is, many cadres and party members, including high-ranking cadres, have violated the Party Charter, the responsibility to set an example, violated the law... and have resigned. In these cases, resignation demonstrates a clear awareness of personal responsibility when they are no longer capable or prestigious enough to take on important responsibilities.

Regulation No. 144-QD/TW is a very important measure for cadres and party members in all actions and work, constantly striving to contribute to building a clean and strong Party, leading the country to develop strongly in the new period. The set standards will also be an indispensable basis for preparing personnel for Party Congresses at all levels for the 2025-2030 term.