Among the Party's principles, democratic centralism, self-criticism and criticism are very basic principles in Party leadership, organization and activities. However, when operating, with personal motives and group interests, these principles are exploited, abused, distorted, and become a cover, rationalizing the leaders' mistakes...
When “centralism” and “democracy” are separated
Democratic centralism is the basic organizational principle, the backbone principle in the organization of the Marxist political party. President Ho Chi Minh often called this the principle of democratic centralism with the implication of emphasizing and promoting the democratic element in the connotation along with the centralization element. He clearly stated that: "All party members, all levels and organizations are unified according to a certain principle. That principle is democratic centralism." He clearly stated that this is the leadership principle, the highest organizational principle, the leadership regime of the Party.
It can be seen that the principle of democratic centralism represents the core characteristic and has a decisive meaning for the quality and effectiveness in leadership, organization and activities of the Party. However, in reality, many cases of violations of Party discipline and State law in recent times are related to the implementation and enforcement of this principle.
According to data from the Central Inspection Commission , during the 12th Congress term, Party committees and inspection committees at all levels discovered and handled, according to their authority, many Party organizations, cadres, and Party members with signs of violating Party discipline in many provinces, cities, agencies, and units nationwide. Specifically, 214 Party organizations were handled for violating the principles of democratic centralism, accounting for 24.6% of the number of Party organizations subject to disciplinary action; 3,943 cases of Party members were disciplined for violating the principles of democratic centralism, accounting for 7.1% of the total number of Party members subject to disciplinary action. Most of the violations caused very serious, especially serious consequences stemming from violations of the principles of democratic centralism.
What is worth mentioning here is that the principle of democratic centralism is established and regulated very strictly, both in the Party Charter as well as in many specific implementation guidelines of the Party, but why is it still distorted and exploited, abused to cover up the wrong decisions of the leaders? The answer here is due to the perception and operation of the principle.
It must be affirmed that the principle of democratic centralism is a unified principle that regulates the organization and operation of the Party, in which centralism must be based on democracy, democracy must go hand in hand with centralism; Party members are equal in rights and responsibilities; Party leadership bodies are established by election; Party resolutions are decided by majority; the minority is subject to the majority; lower-level Party organizations are subject to higher-level Party organizations; Party members must comply with Party resolutions..., to ensure that the Party is a tight organization, with unity of will and action, and strict discipline.
In the principle of democratic centralism, centralism and democracy determine each other. Centralism without democracy will become bureaucratic centralism, authoritarianism, and dictatorship; and democracy without centralism will fall into a state of disorganized, chaotic democracy.
The principle of democratic centralism regulates the Party's working and decision-making regime. If in the leadership regime, the leader is free to decide and is responsible for his decisions, then in the Party, the head of the Party Committee must follow the collective leadership regime, leadership decisions must be discussed and decided by the majority. Recently, many leaders and managers who are also heads of Party Committees have violated the principle of democratic centralism in this content, imposing, lacking democracy in leadership and direction, not discussing and consulting in the collective leadership, leading to decisions that are not in accordance with regulations, exceeding authority, violating the principle of collective leadership, working regulations of the Party Committee, causing huge economic losses, negatively affecting the political and social situation and the prestige of the Party. Thus, in agencies, units, and localities where the leader holds both roles as the head of the agency and the head of the Party Committee, if he does not firmly grasp the principles, and if there is no collective control and restraint, it is very easy to violate the principle of democratic centralism.
Do not let party organizations become tools for violations. Illustration photo: VNA
The principle of democratic centralism stipulates that party organizations at all levels decide on issues within their authority, but they are not allowed to issue resolutions in the name of the party organization that are contrary to the principles, policies, and guidelines of the Party, the policies and laws of the State, and resolutions of higher levels. Recently, many party committees at all levels have violated this regulation.
In violating party organizations, leaders do not adhere to the principles, lack democratic discussion, and impose subjective personal opinions. Democracy becomes a formality, a sham, and is only an external facade, while the internal content is controlled, manipulated, manipulated, coerced, and even threatened by some individuals, especially the leaders, to force the collective to follow their will. Many individuals in party organizations show concentration in the way of flattery, "following the fire to eat the leftovers", regardless of principles. Democracy is operated incorrectly and concentration is "personalized". Therefore, the opinions of cadres and party members are not listened to, not considered for acceptance, and even the request for opinions is ignored, thereby violations of the law are not prevented.
Professor, Dr. Nguyen Huu Khien, former Deputy Director of the National Academy of Public Administration, said that the essence of the principle of democratic centralism is to take the majority opinion to make decisions. The recent violations of the principle of democratic centralism by individual leaders are due to errors in democratic procedures, formal democracy, and bureaucracy. Some leaders have a management style that focuses on authority, making subordinates afraid of opinions.
In many places, leaders have used many tricks and methods to force the collective to pass decisions of a personal nature and group interest. The tricks and methods are often providing incorrect information, directing others to follow their own will, promising, binding certain interests or using influence and power to pressure others to support or "silence means consent"... Comrade Truong Thi Mai, Politburo member, Standing member of the Secretariat, Head of the Central Organization Committee once emphasized that: "Recently, we disciplined a number of party organizations, basically violating the principle of democratic centralism. Using the will of the leader to impose subjectively, does not respect democracy".
In this case, the principle of democratic centralism becomes a facade. Individual will and interests are protected by the collective “cover”. That is why, although formal procedures are followed correctly, the results are still mistakes and unpredictable consequences...
"Ear hat"
In reality, many violations, even long-term violations by groups and individuals, especially by leaders, are not detected and handled promptly. There, the masses know, cadres and party members know but do not dare, do not want or cannot comment, and have to accept "keeping their ears shut". This situation is caused by the perception and implementation of the principle of self-criticism and criticism - an effective weapon to ensure the existence and development of the Party.
Returning to the recent violations that have been concluded and handled, it shows that many cadres, party members, including high-ranking leaders, have committed many serious violations over a long period of time. The main ones are: Lack of responsibility, lax leadership, direction, inspection, and supervision leading to large losses of state assets; loss of internal solidarity; violations of regulations on personnel work, investment management, construction, land use, finance, and assets; corruption... or violations due to authoritarianism, patriarchy, participation in social evils, violations of regulations on what party members are not allowed to do... These violations cannot be said to be unknown to cadres, party members, the masses, comrades, and colleagues in that agency or unit, but due to the weak spirit of struggle, criticism, and self-criticism of the collective and each individual, and the lack of frankness in giving opinions and criticism, the leaders' violations have more opportunities to "act freely", becoming more serious and prolonged.
According to Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Trong Phuc, former Director of the Institute of Party History (Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics), the collective violations also show that the practice of democracy within party organizations is not good, even formal, leading to cadres and party members not daring to defend what is right, not daring to fight what is wrong. It is the lack of democracy and struggle that has paralyzed party organizations.
Self-criticism and criticism at all levels of Party committees and organizations are ineffective, even ineffective, stemming from key leaders and heads who are not exemplary and receptive, even taking advantage of the principles of self-criticism and criticism to discredit others or to form cliques, create "cliques", and oppress honest people. Internally, many people are respectful, afraid of conflict, and "avoid" fighting, so the spirit of criticism and self-criticism becomes lost or paralyzed. Some people are very enthusiastic about criticism, but when it comes to self-criticism, they avoid it or do it perfunctorily. There is also the phenomenon of flattery and caressing each other in criticism. The nature of the principles of criticism and self-criticism is distorted.
Regarding this issue, Dr. Nguyen Thi Thao, Regional Political Academy II, pointed out the reality that in many places, leaders do not respect and listen to the opinions of party members, discriminate against and suppress minority opinions that go against the leaders' policies, leading to a state of indifference, apathy, and reluctance to express opinions...
Here, it is also necessary to emphasize the role of the Party cell in implementing Party principles in general, self-criticism and criticism in particular, to prevent, detect and fight against violations. President Ho Chi Minh said: "The Party cell is the root of the Party", "The Party cell is the stronghold of the Party fighting among the masses", "strong Party cells mean a strong Party"... Party members, regardless of their position, operate in a specific Party cell. Therefore, if the Party cell is truly strong, firmly implements principles, and has a good fighting spirit, there will certainly be no individual abuse of power, leading to serious and prolonged violations.
However, in reality, the violations of many leaders are not discovered or "named" at the "roots", at the "strongholds of the Party". Cadres who become rich abnormally with mansions, super cars or rapidly and massively appoint their children and relatives to public agencies or manifestations of violating principles, arbitrary and patriarchal styles... Party cells and Party members there cannot help but know. However, in activities, Party principles are taken lightly, not operated seriously and effectively. Party members in the Party cells are bound by relationships, interests or the idea of seeking security, each person does his own work, leading to not protecting what is right, not fighting what is wrong, and uniting to follow the wrong... The consequence is that violators "have a dirty face but do not see it" or "a small mistake turns into a big problem", even taking the organization lightly, becoming more and more rampant, turning the Party cell and Party organization into a front, a tool for violations.
Inspection and supervision work is not timely.
In recent times, although the Party's inspection, supervision and discipline work has seen many innovations and breakthroughs in preventing and combating corruption and negativity, in general it has not yet fully met the requirements and tasks in the new situation; quality and efficiency are uneven at all levels, and self-inspection and supervision still have many limitations.
Inspection and supervision agencies in some places and at some times have not fully promoted the spirit and responsibility in developing programs, plans, and inspection contents, identifying weak and prominent issues, especially detecting signs of violations to prevent them in time. In inspection and supervision in some places, there is still deference, avoidance, fear of collision, not speaking frankly, telling the truth, even covering up and condoning wrongdoings, not relying on the people to listen to feedback on violations and shortcomings of cadres and party members... It is a reality that in many cases, although there have been signs of violations, there have been denunciations, but because the Party inspection work has not been carried out promptly and resolutely, the individuals who have violated have been given more and more leverage, sinking deeper into violations, with increasingly serious consequences.
The 13th Party Congress pointed out: Inspection and supervision of the implementation of a number of Party resolutions are not regular. Inspection work in some places lacks focus and key points...; many Party organizations and Party members have committed violations but have not been detected in a timely manner.
These are the reasons why some party organizations are almost paralyzed, becoming a front and a tool for wrongdoing. Therefore, it is necessary to find a remedy to cure the above mentioned very dangerous disease.
(continued)
Ta Ngoc (According to qdnd.vn)
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