Dear Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Van Phuc, could you first share your general views on the article "Promoting Party spirit in building a socialist rule-of-law state in Vietnam" by General Secretary To Lam?
- General Secretary To Lam's article is a very important article, laying the theoretical and practical foundation for the relationship between the Party and the State, and for the Party's leadership role in the socialist rule-of-law state of Vietnam.
The General Secretary's article clarified the leadership role of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the building of a socialist rule-of-law state of Vietnam of the people, by the people, for the people under the leadership of the Party.
The socialist rule of law state is a state model in which the law is the ultimate tool for managing and operating society, but under the direction of the Party. This is a consistent viewpoint of our Party. In the current development context, emphasizing the leadership role of the Party and the necessity of “rule of law” is very important. This also contributes to strengthening the people's trust in the leadership of the Party.
Focusing on building and perfecting the Vietnamese socialist rule-of-law state is an inevitable law of development. It is the aspiration and choice of the people, in line with the trend of state development in the world.
So, in your opinion, how is the party nature in the socialist rule of law state expressed in this article?
- Party spirit in the article of General Secretary To Lam is understood as the absolute, direct, and comprehensive leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam over all areas of social life. The Party's leadership is the key factor to ensure socialist orientation in building and operating a rule-of-law state.
General Secretary To Lam affirmed: “Our Party is the ruling party, the Party's leadership is absolute, direct, comprehensive, covering all areas of politics, economics, culture, society, national defense, security, foreign affairs... The characteristic of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam's rule of law state is that it is under the leadership of the Party.”
However, that does not mean that the Party overwhelms or replaces the State. The Party's character in building a rule-of-law State is demonstrated through the Party's orientation and leadership, while the State carries out management according to the law, in accordance with its functions. That is the clear division of roles between leadership and management, which the General Secretary emphasized in the article.
In the article, the General Secretary also mentioned the need to harmoniously combine Party leadership and State management. Could you elaborate on this?
- This is a key point in the theory of the socialist rule of law state. The leadership of the Party and the management of the State must be two inseparable aspects, but there must be a clear distinction in roles and responsibilities. The Party governs, guides and sets out policies, guidelines and policies; the State institutionalizes policies, guidelines and policies into laws and manages the country and society by law.
This harmonious combination will help avoid the situation where the Party takes the place of the State, or the State separates itself from the Party's leadership.
Could you elaborate on the relationship between “virtue and rule of law” that the General Secretary mentioned in the article?
- The General Secretary's article emphasized that, in order for the socialist rule of law to truly be effective, it is necessary to harmoniously combine "virtue governance" and "rule by law". "Virtue governance" and "rule by law" are two complementary concepts in the process of building and operating the socialist rule of law state.
“Rule of law” promotes the morality and qualities of leaders, especially party members and state officials, who play an important role in law enforcement and social management. “Rule of law”, in essence, is the supremacy of the law, ensuring that all activities of the state and society are regulated by a unified, transparent, and fair legal system.
The General Secretary emphasized the close coordination between “virtue governance” and “rule of law”, when leaders need to have both clean ethics and act in accordance with the law, in order to maintain and develop the socialist rule of law state. As the General Secretary’s article stated: “The “virtue governance” factor is the promotion of the advantages, strengths, position, and role of grassroots Party organizations, the pioneering and exemplary nature of Party members and cadres to lead the “rule of law” factor, which is the implementation of social management by law”.
Thank you Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Van Phuc!
