Socialist Republic of Vietnam

HA NOI — Democracy and transparency are crucial in selecting, appointing and promoting Party cadres, a member of the Politburo’s Party Central Committee has said.

"Only by doing so could the ruling party build up a strong, qualified and trusted contingent," Tran Dinh Hoan said at a national conference in Ha Noi last week held to review Party organisation work over the past two years.

Hoan, who is also chairman of Central Committees Organisation Commission, said he had heard talk of "bargaining power" and "buying appointments" in some branches and localities but no specific cases had been identified yet.

Hoan said serious discipline would be handed down to people engaged in trading power, regardless of rank.

He underscored the important role the chief of a Party committee played in observing the Party’s organisational statutes.

"If the secretary is serious, fair and well aware of his colleagues there is no room for power trading," Hoan said.

"Strong Party committees with virtuous and competent secretaries at the helm would be a solid foundation in the struggle against corruption, bribery, graft and other social ills," he said, criticising "buying power" as another form of corruption that had to be curbed.

Hoan said reinforcing the Party apparatus by meting out penalties to Party officials found guilty of violating laws was necessary to improving the people’s trust in Party leadership.

He admitted, however, that achievements in training, evaluating and appointing Party officials still fell short of expectations and further endeavours were required.

"Party cadre planning should be carried out carefully, regularly and systematically," he pointed out.

Party officials to be promoted should have their self-evaluations processed in combination with comments from their Party committees, colleagues and local residents, he said.

Evaluating cadres at district or higher levels would be done with votes of confidence.

Nominating people to the Party leadership should be done by notifying relevant Party organisations, said Hoan.

Hoan added it was necessary to prepare two or three candidates for an appointment or a promotion in compliance with the principle of democracy. He also asked Party committees to assess their members judiciously and assign them tasks suitable to their professional standards and abilities.

"Rotation of cadres to different assignments and sectors is aimed at arming Party officials with practical knowledge needed in production and business management," the conference was told.

Young Party cadres had gathered good theoretical knowledge from training courses but were short on practice, Hoan said. "Cadre rotation has enabled them to acquaint themselves with different working environments and gain practical experience."

Most of the 23 high-ranking officials from ministries and other central offices, who had been sent to work in provinces or economic sectors, said they had gained much from new assignments. — VNS