Democratic centralism is the principle governing activities of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). To build the Party strong and pure, especially during the time when party congresses are convened at all levels in preparation for the 12th National Congress of the Party, there should be proper awareness and serious implementation of this principle.

Overview of the Party's tenth congress (XI tenure)

First, it is necessary to promote education, to enhance awareness of cadres and party members, especially the key cadres, member of the party committees at all levels so that they can have correct and full awareness on the  nature, contents and dialectical relations of the principle. The two factors, namely “democracy” and “centralism” of the principle are not separated but intertwined. Centralism is based on democracy and democracy is put under the direction of centralism. With proper awareness, party committee will be able to point out strong points and weak points in the implementation process as well as subjective, objective causes of the shortcomings or intentional actions to violate the principle, thus they can timely adjust them. It is necessary to point out individual role of the leaders ; concretize responsibilities, tasks, rights, and working relation of each cadre, party member, of each party committee and party organization.

Second, enhancing the quality of the principle of collective leadership - individual accountability and promoting the exercise  of democracy. Collective leadership - individual accountability is a concrete manifestation of the democratic centralism. Accordingly, all party’s guidelines and policies must be democratically discussed and then decided on the basic of majority.. Individuals are not eligible to decide matters which belong to the authority of the party organizations. For important matters, voting is applied, and voting procedure and vote checking must be respected. When the result comes out, it should be speak out openly and a vote record should also be kept. Once issued, party resolutions must be followed and implemented by all party members. Rules concretizing the democratic centralism must account for the requirements of collective leadership – individual accountability and the promotion of democracy. Each party’s committee and organization need to draw out accountability of the cadre in charge, tasks and responsibilities of cadres holding key positions and rules for collaboration in implementing the resolutions of the party secretary, the party committee and party members.

Third, upholding the role of the secretaries, party committees in maintaining disciplines, procedures, principles of the Party; thoroughly carrying out criticism and self-criticism through-out the Party. Secretaries and party committees are responsible for the party works and are the core for internal solidarity of the party. Reality has shown that wherever the party secretaries and the party committees show good virtues, capability, and responsibility, the democratic centralism is strictly implemented, solidarity is consolidated, and the role and leading efficacy of the party committee is exposed in practice.  To maintain the concentration of democracy in the Party’s activities, there should be training for the secretaries and party committes so that they could grasp the fundamentals of the democratic centralism , collective leadership – individual accountability as well as  procedures and responsibility for the party regular meeting. At the same time, criticism and self-criticism need to be seriously carried out in accordance with the Central Resolution 4 (XI tenure) on the Party building. They should also be hold in a democratic, straightforward, objective and constructive manner.

Fourth, enhancing the effectiveness of periodic and nonperiodic inspection and supervision on the exercising of the democratic centralism; strengthening disciplines in party’s committees and organizations at all levels; timely discover, clarify, correct wrongdoings and overcome shortcomings in the exercise of the democratic centralism. The Party organization should pay close attention on the ideology and relations of party members; have strict punishment for deliberate violations of principles, acts and behaviors against the party resolutions and disobedience of orders.  

Tong The Gia