According to Regulation 365, signed by Permanent Member of the Secretariat Tran Cam Tu, the General Secretary, in addition to meeting the general standards of a Politburo and Secretariat member, must also be the nucleus of leadership, a center of unity, and capable of mobilizing the combined strength of the political system, the entire Party, the entire population, and the strength of the times. This is a new point compared to Regulation 214 of 2020.
Some requirements have also been adjusted. The phrase "having a high level of political theory" has been changed to "having sharp political thinking." The phrase "having political mettle, sharp thinking, research capacity, ability to detect, propose and be decisive" has been changed to "having political mettle, sharp, innovative, and decisive thinking; having the capacity for research, summarizing practical experience, developing theory, and strategic orientation."
The General Secretary must be the most exemplary in terms of morality and intellect within the entire Party; possess broad and comprehensive knowledge; be discerning in the face of difficult and complex issues related to the nation's destiny; and be capable of leading and managing the Central Committee, the Politburo, and the Secretariat. They must also be capable of building a team of strategic-level cadres, especially successors.
Candidates must have successfully completed their duties as secretary of a provincial or municipal Party Committee, or as head of a Central Committee department, ministry, or sector; and have served on the Politburo for at least one full term.
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Current leaders of the Party and State: General Secretary To Lam, President Luong Cuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, National Assembly Chairperson Tran Thanh Man, Permanent Member of the Secretariat Tran Cam Tu, and Head of the Central Steering Committee for Internal Affairs Phan Dinh Trac. Photo: Hoang Phong |
Current leaders of the Party and State: General Secretary To Lam, President Luong Cuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, National Assembly Chairperson Tran Thanh Man, Permanent Member of the Secretariat Tran Cam Tu, and Head of the Central Steering Committee for Internal Affairs Phan Dinh Trac. Photo: Hoang Phong
The standards for the President, Prime Minister, and National Assembly Chairperson remain largely unchanged but are more specifically articulated: they must have high prestige, outstanding overall capacity, extensive knowledge, and leadership experience; and have served on the Politburo for at least one full term.
Requirements for the Permanent Member of the Secretariat have also been supplemented. Instead of "having high prestige and being a nucleus of unity," the new wording is "having high prestige and being a center of unity" within the Central Committee, Politburo, Secretariat, and the entire Party. The requirement "having a high level of political theory" has been changed to "having sharp political thinking."
For Politburo and Secretariat members, standards of decisiveness and effectiveness in carrying out assigned tasks and responsibilities have been added, along with having the heart, vision, and responsibility in building a cadre team, ensuring the succession, development, and stable transition between generations of cadres.
Previously, Politburo and Secretariat members were required to "have the ability to contribute ideas." Now, they need to "have the ability to build long-term development strategies for the country" and contribute ideas in formulating guidelines and policies, as well as detecting and proposing practical issues for the Central Committee, Politburo, and Secretariat to discuss and decide upon.
The standards for Central Committee members have undergone many changes. The quality of being "exemplary of the Party in political mettle, moral qualities, and work capacity" has been replaced by "political mettle, moral qualities, lifestyle, pioneering spirit, exemplary nature, constructive nature, fighting spirit, action-oriented nature, discipline, humanism, competence, and prestige in all aspects."
Previously, Central Committee members had to "have a high sense of responsibility and comprehensive knowledge." Now, they must be "cadres with fundamental training, comprehensive knowledge, practical experience, innovative thinking, strategic vision, dedication, and responsibility."
The new regulations also add that Central Committee members must have outstanding achievements and concrete results during their work, and resolutely fight against corruption, wastefulness, negativity, bureaucracy, and interest groups.
For alternate members, standards of decisiveness and effectiveness in carrying out assigned tasks and responsibilities have been added. They must also understand the domestic, regional, and global situations and be able to participate, contribute ideas, and propose practical issues for the Party Central Committee to discuss and decide upon. Through practical work, these individuals must demonstrate leadership, administration, and management capacity, successfully complete their duties in previous positions, show development potential, and be able to meet immediate requirements when assigned to leadership positions in localities, agencies, and units with Party Central Committee structures.
Regulation 365 also specifies standards for many other important positions, such as heads of Party committees, chairpersons of the Central Inspection Commission, head of the Central Office, director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, leaders of key press agencies, chief justice of the Supreme People's Court, president of the Supreme People's Procuracy, ministers, and heads of sectors. These positions require deep expertise, practical experience, integrity, management skills, and the ability to meet the requirements of innovation, digital transformation, and international integration.
At the local level, secretaries of provincial and municipal Party committees must be exemplary in morality and intellect, have high prestige, and have a comprehensive understanding of the local situation. Chairpersons of provincial and municipal People's Committees must have state management capacity, economic and social development management skills, and integrity.
Leaders of the Fatherland Front and other mass organizations need to have the ability to rally and mobilize the masses, conduct social oversight and criticism, and create consensus among the people.
Specific cases in appointment and nomination
Regulation 365 specifies several special cases in the application of position standards. Transferred or rotated officials do not necessarily have to meet the criteria of "having held a key leadership or management position at the immediately lower level." Those appointed to equivalent positions or concurrently holding other positions do not necessarily have to fully meet the standards for the equivalent position or the concurrent position.
Cadres in the armed forces, non-business units, and state-owned enterprises are not required to have training certificates in state management knowledge and skills when appointed or nominated. In cases of appointment to new positions not yet covered by this Regulation, general standards and equivalent position standards will apply.
For those appointed to leadership and management positions at all levels for the first time, it is not necessary to fully meet the criteria for leadership and management achievements or having held a key position at a lower level. Other special cases will be considered and decided by the competent authority managing the cadres.
The regulation also assigns the Central Organization Commission to lead the guidance, monitoring, and supervision of implementation; and to advise the Politburo and the Secretariat in evaluating, planning, training, fostering, transferring, appointing, and nominating cadres. Party committees, Party organizations, agencies, and units will base their position standards on this regulation and practical circumstances.
This Regulation replaces Regulation 89 dated 4/8/2017 of the Politburo on the framework of position standards and orientation of the framework of criteria for evaluating cadres and managers at all levels, and Regulation 214 dated 2/1/2020 of the Politburo on the framework of position standards and criteria for evaluating cadres under the management of the Party Central Committee, the Politburo, and the Secretariat.
Vu Tuan
