Standards for the Position of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party: Can the Comrade General Secretary Hold Three Consecutive Terms?
What are the requirements for the position of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party?
Based on subsection 2.3, Section 2, Part I of Regulation 214-QD/TW in 2020, the requirements for the position of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party are as follows:
Ensuring full compliance with the general standards for members of the Politburo and the Secretariat, while also possessing the following qualities and capacities:
- Possess high prestige in the Central Committee, Politburo, in the entire Communist Party, and among the people; be a center of unity, gathering and mobilizing the comprehensive strength of the entire political system, the entire Communist Party, the entire people, and the strength of the era to successfully accomplish the two strategic tasks of building and defending the country, with the goals of "a wealthy people, a strong country, democracy, justice, and civilization."
- Be the most exemplary in ethics and intellect throughout the Communist Party.
- Have a high level of political theory.
- Have deep, broad, and comprehensive knowledge in various fields including politics, economy, culture, society, national defense, security, diplomacy, Communist Party building, state management, etc.
- Possess political bravery, sharp thinking, research capability, discovery, proposal and decisiveness; remain calm and wise in facing complex and difficult issues concerning the fate of the Communist Party, the nation, and the people.
- Have leadership and management skills in directing the activities of the Central Committee, Politburo, and Secretariat; have the ability to lead and build the strategic cadre team, especially successors and key officials.
- Have held and successfully completed the tasks in the positions of provincial or municipal Party Committee Secretary or head of ministries and central authorities; participated in the Politburo for one complete term or more; special cases are decided by the Central Committee.
In addition to the above standards, to become a General Secretary, one must also meet the general standards specified in Section 1, Part I of Regulation 214-QD/TW in 2020 which include:
- Politics and ideology;
- Ethics and lifestyle;
- Qualifications;
- Capabilities and reputation;
- Health, age, and experience.
What are the standards for the position of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party? Can the General Secretary hold three consecutive terms? (Image from the Internet)
Can the General Secretary hold three consecutive terms?
Based on Clause 1, Article 17 of the Charter of the Communist Party of Vietnam in 2011 which states:
1. The Central Committee elects the Politburo; elects the General Secretary from among the members of the Politburo; establishes the Secretariat comprising the General Secretary, a number of Politburo members assigned by the Politburo, and a number of Secretariat members elected by the Central Committee from among its members; elects the Central Inspection Committee; elects the Chairperson of the Central Inspection Committee from among its members.
The number of members of the Politburo, the Secretariat, and the Central Inspection Committee is decided by the Central Committee.
The General Secretary holds the position for no more than two consecutive terms.
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According to the regulation, the General Secretary holds the position for no more than 2 consecutive terms.
However, there is an exception whereby General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong became the special case, re-elected as General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam for three consecutive terms.
How is the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam elected?
According to the provisions of Article 3 of the Election Regulations within the Communist Party issued together with Decision 244-QD/TW in 2014, as follows:
Election methods
1. Voting by secret ballot in the following cases:
- Electing the Party committee, branch committee (referred to as the Party committee); electing the Central Committee.
- Electing the standing committee, secretary, and deputy secretary of the Party committee.
- Electing the Politburo, General Secretary, and Secretariat.
- Electing the inspection committee, chairperson, and vice chairperson of the inspection committee.
- Electing delegates to the higher-level Party congress.
- Conducting opinion polls on candidates to be included in the election list.
- Nominating Party members for leadership positions in the State, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and mass organizations.
2. Voting by raising hands (using Party membership cards for voting) in the following cases:
- Electing the executive and assisting agencies for congresses and conferences (congress presidium, congress secretary group, conference chairperson, delegate eligibility verification committee, vote counting committee, etc.).
- Approving the number and the list of candidates.
Thus, the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam is elected by secret ballot.
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