The General Secretary's book spreads great momentum, pushing back new obstacles - Part 2: We cannot be irresponsible and then blame

Speaking at the conclusion of the 13th Party Central Committee's mid-term conference on May 17, 2023, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong requested to fight against the idea of ​​retreat, fearing that if the fight against corruption and negativity is too strong, it will discourage, avoid, and shirk responsibility among a number of cadres and civil servants. Photo: VNA

New, very dangerous argument

While the fight against corruption and negativity continues to be promoted, achieving great, comprehensive, unprecedented achievements since the founding of the country, many hostile forces abroad use the media and social networks to spread a false and very dangerous argument that the "disease" of irresponsibility of cadres and party members originates from the "consequences and consequences" of the "furnace burning" campaign. They deliberately speculate, associate, and create a correlation between the two "hot" issues of the country today to attack the thoughts and feelings of cadres, party members, and people.

Their intention is to use the limited, weak, and irresponsible state of a small number of cadres and party members to distort, lower the prestige, and reduce the role and achievements of the fight against corruption and negativity. They want to create an opposition between the two issues with the intention that if we continue to promote the fight against corruption and negativity, we will eliminate public service responsibilities.

At first hearing, some people find the argument to be correct, but on closer inspection, it is just a trick of words to deceive people. Sadly, some cadres, party members, and people have the wrong perception and think that this argument is correct, even spreading and encouraging wrong views and information. In particular, there are irresponsible cadres and party members who are being condemned by the entire Party and people, as if finding an excuse, a "lifebuoy", so they unintentionally or intentionally encourage this dangerous argument.

I think this is a very dangerous new argument, defamatory and destructive of the fight against corruption and negativity. This is a new challenge in the fight against "internal invaders", which needs to be clearly identified, thoroughly analyzed to fight against and promptly handle.

The requirement to fight against the above-mentioned false arguments was emphasized by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in his concluding speech at the 13th Party Central Committee's mid-term conference on May 17, 2023: "To rectify and fight against the idea of ​​retreat, to be concerned that if the fight against corruption and negativity is too strong, it will hinder development, discourage, slow down, defend, shield, keep safe, avoid, and shirk responsibility in a certain group of cadres and civil servants, especially leaders and managers at all levels. I have said it many times; now I would like to repeat: Those who have that idea, please stand aside and let others do it! All of us, especially those who directly do organizational and personnel work, must have high will and determination, a pure heart, and a discerning eye; do not see red as ripe! Do not see red as ripe"!

Irresponsibility is a manifestation of degradation and negativity.

Many people use the words “avoiding responsibility”, “fearing responsibility”, “passing the buck”… which have happened among a small number of cadres and party members, but I think using the word “lack of responsibility” is more comprehensive. After all, “avoiding responsibility”, “fearing responsibility”, “passing the buck” are all manifestations of “lack of responsibility”.

Responsibility is the duty and task assigned to each person and everyone must try to complete and do well that responsibility. Cadres and party members need to be exemplary in performing their duties and tasks. It is already unacceptable for a commoner or an ordinary person to lack responsibility, but cadres and party members, especially those holding high positions, to lack responsibility need to be condemned and dealt with even more.

The situation of a small number of cadres and party members lacking responsibility has been pointed out and criticized by the Party and the State. Lack of responsibility is a manifestation of political and ideological degradation and is also a negative manifestation identified in Instruction No. 25-HD/BCĐTW dated August 1, 2022 of the Central Steering Committee on preventing and combating corruption and negativity.

At the ongoing 5th Session of the 15th National Assembly, the situation of irresponsibility, evasion, and shirking of responsibility has been analyzed by many Party and State leaders and National Assembly deputies, with many solutions proposed to overcome and rectify it.

This situation has reached an alarming level, if not handled promptly, it will hinder the country's development. On April 19, 2023, the Prime Minister must issue Official Dispatch No. 280/CD-TTg on rectification and strengthening of responsibility in handling work of ministries, agencies and localities. The content of the official dispatch clearly states the situation of avoiding, pushing work, having a cautious mentality, fear of making mistakes, fear of responsibility, not daring to advise, propose handling work, not deciding on work within their authority. The consequence is that work is delayed, hindered and in some places very stagnant, undermining the trust of people and businesses in state agencies, affecting socio-economic development.

Thus, it can be seen that the lack of responsibility appears in both central and local officials. The sectors and fields where the lack of responsibility of officials is very prominent, as frankly pointed out by the Government, are public investment, public procurement, land management, valuation, and provision of services directly related to people and businesses.

Public investment, public procurement, land management... are sectors and fields identified as having very prominent cases of irresponsibility among officials (Illustration photo)

Determine the cause

What are the causes of the lack of responsibility of officials? In my opinion, there are 3 main causes, including 1 objective cause and 2 subjective causes.

Firstly, the objective reason is that the country's legal system, mechanisms and policies are still in the process of being perfected, so there are still many shortcomings, inadequacies and overlaps.

Second, the subjective cause comes from the irresponsible cadres themselves. They are irresponsible because of limited awareness. They are irresponsible because of weak capacity, unable to meet the requirements and tasks. These people do not have a firm grasp of the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws, and have limited professional capacity, so they are always afraid, do not dare to do, do not dare to take responsibility. They do not have enough capacity and awareness to fulfill their responsibilities.

Third, the cause comes from leadership, direction, management, and operation. There are some subordinates who lack responsibility, but the collective and the superior leaders are determined to inspect, supervise, and handle responsibilities, so the subordinates must fulfill their responsibilities. However, in reality, some party committees, authorities, and heads of organizations have not fulfilled their leadership, direction, and management responsibilities, so subordinates are still not afraid of taking responsibility.

Among the causes leading to the lack of responsibility, I do not see any cause as a “consequence or consequence” of the fight against corruption and negativity. Both theoretical and practical bases affirm that the fight against corruption and negativity and the awareness of responsibility and the fulfillment of responsibility always go hand in hand and complement each other.

Obviously, a fallacy, an absurd and baseless argument cannot convince society.

An overseas news site often makes false claims that the lack of responsibility of some officials is a consequence of the fight against corruption.

Recognizing great achievements

Although hostile forces have tried their best to sabotage the fight against corruption and negativity that our Party has promoted over the past 11 years in three consecutive congresses (11th, 12th, 13th Congresses), they cannot deny the great and comprehensive achievements of the "furnace-burning" cause under the leadership and direction of the Party headed by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. Even within the forces that sabotage our Party, State, and people, they have had to publicly acknowledge the results and positive changes in the fight against "internal invaders".

The majority of our cadres, party members and people have acknowledged and highly appreciated the achievements of the fight against corruption and negativity.

Progressive public opinion internationally and many politicians from countries, international organizations, and major news agencies around the world have highly appreciated the great results in preventing corruption and negativity in Vietnam. US President Joe Biden once said: “I welcome your efforts to fight corruption and promote good governance as General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam. Addressing corruption plays an important role in promoting peace and security in the Southeast Asian region and the world.”

The French newspaper Le Monde in an article on June 21, 2022 stated: "Vietnam's fight against corruption has accelerated strongly and now excludes no one, from tycoons in the private economic sector to party members who are high-ranking officials."

The great achievements in the fight against corruption and negativity have contributed to purifying and consolidating the political system, bringing people confidence in the leadership and governance of the Party, and promoting the healthy and correct development of the economy, culture and society. These achievements have made the opposing forces fearful and angry. These achievements have also made a small number of cadres and party members "dipped in" corruption and negativity terrified, and those who want to commit corruption and negativity have to hesitate and step back. But absolutely, these achievements are not the "consequences" that lead to a small number of cadres and party members being irresponsible. The distorted arguments of the opposing forces are too forced and ridiculous!

According to the report summarizing 10 years of anti-corruption and negativity in the period of 2012-2022, Party committees and Party Inspection Committees at all levels nationwide have disciplined 2,740 Party organizations and more than 167,700 cadres and Party members, of which 7,390 Party members were disciplined for corruption; 170 cadres under the Central Committee's management have been disciplined, including 4 Politburo members, former Politburo members and 29 Party Central Committee members, former Party Central Committee members, and 50 generals in the armed forces. The achievements of the "furnace" campaign include not only handling violations, but also many important steps forward in building and perfecting institutions towards the goal of "not being able, not daring, not wanting, not needing" corruption and negativity. Controlling power, publicity, transparency, and building a culture of integrity have also been given attention.

NINH TUAN
Next: Multiplying advantages, how to solve challenges?