Do Muoi - Political Views

Political Views

Đỗ Mười believes in the "evolutionary progression of the political renovation" which began at the 6th National Congress. Reform in the economic sphere was of upmost importance, while political reform was secondary. However, he did believe that the implementation of economic reforms often showed glaring weaknesses in the political system. Đỗ Mười did not want to transform the political system, but to improve it. Changes made to laws and governing practices should, according to him, be grounded in the ideology of Marxism–Leninism and Hồ Chí Minh Thought. He opposed what he called "demagogic arguments" which called for an end to the party's "monopo- listic leadership and returning all power to the people under the pretext of renewing democracy." At the same time, he supported the democratization- and the broadening of the party's decision-making process, but firmly believed in the principles of democratic centralism.

Đỗ Mười supported the idea of selling preferential shares in state-owned enterprises to employees, profit sharing schemes, "and the sales of percentages of state enterprises to 'outside organizations and individuals' to create conditions for workers to become the real owners of enterprises." He often stressed the importance of industrialization not being just an alteration of the means of production, but as a comprehensive socio-economic change. He often emphasized the need to "catch up with world progress" by emphasizing economic strategies which played on Vietnam's strengths. During the industrialization process, Đỗ Mười claimed that the industrialization program would be run by the market mechanism, but that the state-owned sector would in turn guide and control the market process.

While Đỗ Mười never opposed freedom of press, criticism, debate and diversity, he attacked those he believed campaigned against the socialist cause. At the 4th Congress of the Writers Union, Đỗ Mười stated certain literature aimed "to smear the party and state leadership and erode the people's confidence in the party and state." At a press conference in 1992 Đỗ Mười stated that "information must be guided" and the press had to "remain the shock force on the ideological and cultural front." He further criticized the media of taking advantage of the relaxation of press freedom by criticizing the party and socialism. By 1993, Đỗ Mười claimed that the press had been "commercialized" by the economic reforms.