The guiding light (Part 1)

Personnel work has always been considered a focal point by our Party, not only the “core of the core” but also the “backbone” of the entire era. Cadres are the root of all issues; whether they are competent or not directly affects the success or failure of the revolution. Naturally, those who lead the revolution to victory must be guided by the brightest ideals.

PART 1: PERSONNEL WORK DETERMINES THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF A TENURE

“Personnel work is the ‘core of the core’; therefore, personnel preparations for the 14th National Party Congress must be conducted in a synchronized, scientific, methodical, rigorous, democratic, objective, and transparent manner, ensuring full compliance with Party regulations, the principle of democratic centralism, and legal provisions,” Party General Secretary To Lam concluded at the 12th Plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee on July 19.

Head of the Communist Party of Vietnam affirmed : Personnel affairs are of extraordinary importance, directly influencing the success or failure of the entire 2025–2030 tenure.

Comrade Ton Ngoc Hanh, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee (PPC) and Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Council, presents a floral basket from the PPC, People's Council, People's Committee, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee (VFF) of the province to congratulate the 1st Party Congress of Tan Hung commune for the 2025–2030 tenure. Photo: Cam Lien

“The core of the core”

Throughout numerous key Central conferences, personnel work has been examined with great caution, thoroughness, and methodical rigor by the Party Central Committee, in strict compliance with Party Statutes, Party regulations, and current laws. The personnel orientation for the 14th Party Central Committee was also identified as particularly critical, directly impacting the success or failure of the entire next tenure. Accordingly, personnel must meet prescribed standards and conditions, possess firm political will, demonstrate innovative thinking, maintain moral integrity, act decisively for the collective and the people, and place national and ethnic interests above all else.

Analyzing the Party's personnel affairs, Nguyen Duc Ha, former Director of the Grassroots Party Organizations Department under the Party Central Committee’s Organization Commission, emphasized: Preparing personnel for a new tenure is not solely the responsibility of the Party committee but of the entire political system and the people. It must be truly public, transparent, impartial, and objective, without pressure from any organization or individual. It is not only now but also in many previous terms that personnel work has always been carefully considered, particularly in public and transparent ways. There is absolutely no room for factionalism or personal gain, contrary to the distorted claims of  opportunistic elements. The Party’s policies and guidelines from the Central Committee have been strictly implemented by local authorities.

In practice, in Dong Nai province, all 95 Party Committees at communes and wards successfully organized their 2025–2030 congresses, thereby summarizing and evaluating results of the 2020–2025 resolutions, and setting clear objectives and targets to ensure effective action programs. All congresses concluded ahead of the schedule assigned by the Central Committee. Accordingly, personnel arrangements for the new Party tenure were harmoniously balanced between standards and structure; between inheritance, stability, and innovation; between universality and specificity; between academic training and practical strengths; and between prestige, experience, and developmental orientation. Special emphasis was placed on the quality, effectiveness, output, and dedication of cadres as benchmarks for evaluating, arranging, and deploying personnel. Simultaneously, there was continuous oversight and close supervision from Central leadership.

During the 1st Party Congress of Xuan Loc commune for the 2025–2030 tenure, comrade Phan Dinh Trac, Member of the Politburo, Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and head of its Commission for Internal Affairs, reminded: It is particularly important to develop a pool of cadres and civil servants with political courage, moral integrity, adequate knowledge, capability, experience, willingness to innovate and take responsibility, who walk the talk, serve as a bridge between people and authorities, and meet the requirements of the new period. Personnel work has been closely directed, because ‘people’ in cadre work are extremely important, directly affecting the development of communes, provinces, and the country.

Building revolutionary cadres both virtuous and professional

Bold, decisive, and driven by the aspiration to realize a long-term vision, after the 12th Plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee, the Party Central Committee agreed on personnel directions for the 14th National Party Congress. This included allocation of the structure and number of official Central Committee members; standards, structure, numbers, and principles for delegates to the 14th Congress; and opinions on personnel additions to the Politburo and Secretariat for the 2026–2031 tenure. This reflects the expectations and aspirations of cadres, Party members, and the people to select virtuous and talented cadres to build a prosperous nation.

Phan Duy Khiem, Central Reporter and Head of the Information - General Department of the PPC’s Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department, shared: “Following many meetings and conferences, I have observed Party General Secretary To Lam repeatedly emphasize that personnel work must be a top priority, conducted objectively, transparently, and with the right people in the right positions. Preparations must be thorough to avoid disciplinary issues after appointments. Central personnel work is very clear, principled, and particularly focuses on selecting people with talent, virtue, and dedication to the country.”

Now over 80 years old and with his 65-year Party membership, Tran Tinh (from Dong Tam 1 Hamlet, Dong Tam commune, Dong Nai province) continues to follow updates on the lead-up to the 14th National Party Congress. Tran Tinh expressed: “I hope the Party Central Committee demonstrates unity and sets an example, with superiors leading by example for subordinates, focusing increasingly on Party building as the key guiding principle for national progress. I place full trust in the Party and hope this Congress will be a Congress of discipline, unity, creativity, and development.”

Thach Nhi, a respected figure among the Khmer community in Phuoc An neighborhood, Binh Phuoc ward, Dong Nai province, shared: “To me, the morality of cadres, Party members is steadily becoming standard. I hope that each cadre, especially those in high positions, possesses vision and conscience, remains close to the people, visits grassroots areas, especially disadvantaged ethnic minority communities, and engages in economic and social issues to gradually reduce disparities between urban and rural areas, central and remote regions, improving overall quality of life.”

From the trust of cadres, Party members, and the people from walks of life, it is evident that building a new tenure’s contingent of cadres, virtuous and professional, will be the “key” to new opportunities for each locality and will open wide doors for the country to step into a new era. The clear, scientific, and transparent steps in personnel work for the new tenure’s Congress reflect the spirit of receptiveness and determination for development from the Politburo to grassroots Party Committees. The people’s unwavering trust in the Party has been reaffirmed. This also serves as a “solid shield” against baseless distortions from hostile forces and political opportunists.

By Cam Lien – Translated by M.Nguyet, Thu Ha