To streamline the apparatus, the leader must set an example and even accept sacrifice.

Many important messages about the "revolution" of streamlining the organizational apparatus of the political system were emphasized by General Secretary To Lam in his closing speech at the Central Conference on November 25. In particular, General Secretary To Lam said that Party committees, Party organizations, agencies, units, levels, sectors, first of all, leaders and heads need to be exemplary, proactive, and determined in performing assigned tasks in the spirit of "running and lining up at the same time", the Central does not wait for the provincial level, the provincial level does not wait for the district level, the district level does not wait for the grassroots level. Determined to complete the summary of Resolution 18 and report to the Central Executive Committee on the plan to arrange and perfect the organizational apparatus of the political system in the first quarter of 2025.

VOV reporter interviewed Dr. Dinh Duy Hoa, public administration expert, former Director of the Department of Administrative Reform, Ministry of Home Affairs about this content.

PV:Can you analyze and comment on this time of streamlining the apparatus, when General Secretary To Lam called this a revolution with the spirit of "running and queuing at the same time", the Central does not wait for the province, the province does not wait for the district, the district does not wait for the grassroots?

Mr. Dinh Duy Hoa:I think the content of this directive of the General Secretary is quite clear. To line up, one must take turns, to move forward step by step, and in the directive there is the idea of ​​“running”, showing that time no longer waits, cannot be in the normal sequence but must be decisive, urgent, and run to demonstrate innovation in this revolution. At the same time, there are times when one must balance back with the present. Thus, it shows the leadership motto between innovation and stability for development. I see this directive quite clearly.

PV:In fact, our country has restructured its apparatus, split and merged many times. In your opinion, what is new in this round of apparatus reform and how is it different from previous times?

Mr. Dinh Duy Hoa:This reform, even its name, “reform, streamlining the organization and apparatus to be effective and efficient”, speaks to the “quality” of this campaign. There are several new points: Firstly, the spirit of saying and doing has been clearly demonstrated. General Secretary To Lam spoke about this issue recently and in a short time, he immediately began to implement the plans; agencies, especially the Steering Committees at all levels, ministries, branches and localities, have directed to self-review and evaluate.

The second is the determination, clearly shown in the synchronization of all three parts of the political system. In the previous times, I remember that the focus was mainly on the administrative sector and local government. While this time, according to the direction of the Central Committee and the General Secretary, all three parts were done: the Party organization, the State organization, the Front organization and socio-political organizations. Thus, the three core parts of the ruling system all studied and all worked. Thus, the determination and synchronization were clearly shown compared to the previous times.

Another new point that is also mentioned repeatedly is that the Central Government does it first. Our political system is also quite special, for example, the Party and Central Committees, whichever organization is reasonable, will continue at the provincial level, and the same will be true at the district level. Similarly, in the Government, at the central level there are ministries such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and at the provincial level there are the Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development... Suppose the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development merges or adds something, the province will immediately implement it. Therefore, the common thing done first has the meaning of giving strong direction for implementation, being exemplary, but at the same time it is also a new model shown at the central level for the provinces and districts to follow. I imagine that the results of this reform will be clear and the goal of being concise, effective, and efficient will certainly be achieved.

PV:So what do ministries, branches and localities need to do immediately to ensure the process takes place in a synchronous, effective and timely manner?

Mr. Dinh Duy Hoa:The spirit of urgency has been clearly demonstrated in the direction of the Politburo and the General Secretary. Thus, the first thing is that each agency must review its functions, tasks, and organizational structure, and on the basis of that review, proactively propose.

The second important thing is the level of leadership. The Central Steering Committee has strong directions and guidance that will help ministries, branches and provinces implement concretely. I think these things need to be done immediately.

PV:What lessons should be learned from the recent mergers so that this time it can be done scientifically, thoroughly, and long-term, avoiding the need for multiple reforms so that we have time and mind to focus on economic development, bringing the country into an era of growth?

Mr. Dinh Duy Hoa:There are many lessons learned, the first of which is that the arrangement must be suitable to reality. For example, in 1995, there was a multi-sectoral and multi-sector ministry called the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, based on the merger of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Forestry, and the Ministry of Food Industry. At that time, the scope of management of a ministry and especially of a Minister managing several sectors like that was appropriate, if too many were added, it would probably not be okay. After more than 10 years, we added aquaculture to this ministry.

If now, after such a period of several decades, more sectors and fields are added to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, will the Minister, Deputy Ministers, and units within the Ministry have enough capacity to manage them? I think it is probably enough. That means the arrangement must be based on and consistent with reality.

In addition, it is necessary to ensure the principles, including the principle of multi-sectoral and multi-field ministries. Especially, it is important to pay attention to designing in accordance with organizational science. We have seen that for a long time there were many general departments. From 2021 until now, the general departments in the ministries have been abolished and downgraded, almost all of them have been abolished. So whether there is a general department or not, how can we answer, otherwise we will have to re-establish a general department in a few years? Therefore, organizational science in this organizational arrangement must be paid special attention to, combining both practice and science.

PV:After the restructuring and merger, there will certainly be a surplus of staff and facilities. So, harmoniously resolving these issues after the merger is not simple, sir?

Mr. Dinh Duy Hoa:There is definitely such a story. For example, if 2-3 ministries merge into 1 ministry, and the same thing happens at the provincial level, there will obviously be excess people, including excess leaders, excess cadres, civil servants, and ordinary employees. Therefore, we have to calculate. In the case of organizational reorganization, the redundant people in this way are not incompetent. They are competent, but because of the organizational merger, there is a story of excess.

Therefore, policies and regimes must be appropriate and satisfactory, creating conditions for those people to be able to continue to contribute through training, development, through personnel arrangement and assignment, and the final solution is to leave the system. Policies and regimes must be given close attention here.

Regarding facilities, recently, when administrative units at local, district and commune levels were reorganized, there was a phenomenon of redundant headquarters and assets becoming wasteful. I think the responsibility of local authorities and Party committees here has faded.

After the arrangement was completed, the two communes merged into one, so there was an excess of headquarters, but the use of it was almost neglected, without any attention. I think we should emphasize the responsibility of the head, including the responsibility of the superior to inspect and supervise. In terms of institutions, determining whether this is public property of the commune People's Committee or the commune government, or the district government, the legal regulations here are a bit loose. Therefore, this needs attention.

PV: General Secretary To Lam requested that Central Committee members and heads of units must uphold their sense of responsibility and be exemplary pioneers in this revolution to streamline the apparatus. According to him, how should the sense of responsibility of heads of units be demonstrated in specific actions to streamline the apparatus?

Mr. Dinh Duy Hoa:The General Secretary has stated quite clearly that this arrangement affects leadership positions, so first of all, leaders, heads, especially Central Committee members, must set an example. Setting an example here means that if it affects oneself, one must be ready to accept that arrangement, accept the sacrifice. Sacrifice here means sacrificing the rights and interests that are affected through the arrangement. Thus, the role of setting an example is extremely important, and if you set an example like that, then subordinates and society will look at you, creating a driving force for this revolution.

Along with that, leaders, heads of departments, and agencies in the whole system must do a good job of educating their team; then review and see if their organization has any problems. The biggest question is whether their agency or organization deserves to continue to exist or not? Are the functions and tasks still appropriate, and what adjustments should be made? This also requires courage and self-assessment to make suggestions.

PV: Thank you.