The first General Election

Ha Tinh, along with other localities nationwide, has made very urgent and thorough preparations, ensuring the most democratic and progressive principles. For the first time in history, the people of Ha Tinh, together with their compatriots across the country, have the right to nominate candidates and vote, participating in the building of government bodies.

The first General Election - a special milestone in the course of history.

On September 3, 1945, at the first meeting of the Provisional Government, President Ho Chi Minh proposed that the Government "organize a general election with universal suffrage as soon as possible. All male and female citizens eighteen years of age and older have the right to run for office and vote, regardless of wealth, poverty, religion, or race..."

President Ho Chi Minh outlined six of the most urgent issues that needed to be addressed, one of which was the need to organize a general election to elect an official National Assembly and appoint a people's government, and to establish a Constitutional Drafting Committee.

A special issue of the National Assembly Newspaper published on the day of the general election. (Photo courtesy of the National Assembly Newspaper)

On September 8, 1945, President Ho Chi Minh issued Decree No. 14-SL on the General Election. The decree clearly stated: "In accordance with the Resolution of the National Congress on August 16 and 17, 1945, in the liberated zone, it is stipulated that Vietnam will follow a democratic republican system and the national people's government will be elected by a National Congress through universal suffrage."

To expedite preparations for the general election, on September 29, 1945, the Provisional Government issued Decree No. 51-SL, dated October 17, 1945, stipulating the regulations for the general election.

Working people in Hanoi campaign for the general election on January 6, 1946. Archival photo.

Regarding the significance of the first general election of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, he said: “The general election is an opportunity for the entire nation to freely choose talented and virtuous people to shoulder the responsibilities of the country”; “The general election means freedom and equality; it means democracy and unity”; “Through the general election, the entire people elect the National Assembly. The National Assembly will appoint the Government. That Government is truly the Government of the entire people.” According to him, those eligible to run for National Assembly representative were “Those who want to serve the country” and “Every citizen has the right to vote. There is no distinction between men and women, rich and poor, religion, race, class, or political party.”

Voters in the outskirts of Hanoi cast their ballots to elect representatives to the first National Assembly on January 6, 1946. (Archival photo)

With thorough and meticulous preparation, the first National Assembly election proceeded as planned and was a success. Only a small part of the South held its election on December 23, 1945 (due to not receiving the postponement order in time), while most others held theirs on January 6, 1946. In all 71 provinces and cities, 89% of the total electorate cast their votes. A total of 333 representatives were elected nationwide. In Hanoi, 91.95% of voters in 74 inner-city districts and 118 suburban villages voted; as a result, 6 out of 74 candidates were elected to the National Assembly; President Ho Chi Minh was elected with the highest number of votes (98.4%).

President Ho Chi Minh casts his vote in the National Assembly election. (Archival photo)

Ha Tinh and its first General Election

Despite internal and external threats, and extremely difficult political, economic, and social conditions, the general election in Ha Tinh, along with other localities nationwide, was prepared very urgently and meticulously, ensuring the most democratic and progressive principles: universal, equal, direct, and secret ballot.

To prepare for the General Election, election committees in Ha Tinh were established down to the village level, directly managed by the People's Committees at all levels. For the first time in history, the people of Ha Tinh, along with people nationwide, had the right to run for office and vote, participating in the building of government bodies. Many talented and virtuous individuals volunteered to run for office or were nominated by the people.

All voter and candidate lists were completed and publicly posted. Throughout the province, flags and banners adorned the streets, creating a vibrant and enthusiastic atmosphere. The public actively exchanged ideas, debated, and questioned each other in order to choose the most worthy representatives and prevent opportunistic elements from exploiting the general election to seize power.

On January 5, 1946, President Ho Chi Minh issued a call to the nation to vote, which included the passage: “Tomorrow is a joyful day for our compatriots, because tomorrow is the General Election Day, because tomorrow is the first day in the history of Vietnam that our people begin to enjoy their democratic rights.”

Responding to the sacred call of the Fatherland, on January 6, 1946 - a historic day for the nation - along with the people of the whole country, more than 200,000 voters in Ha Tinh, from rural areas to cities, regardless of gender or age, enthusiastically went to the polls to elect the National Assembly. The results elected 7 representatives from Ha Tinh to the first National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, including: Ta Quang Buu (nominated by the Central Committee), Tran Huu Duyet, Tran Binh, Le Loc, Ho Van Ninh, Nguyen Trong Nha, and Nguyen Dinh Luong.

At its first session, the First National Assembly recognized the United Resistance Government with Ho Chi Minh as its President, and elected the Standing Committee of the National Assembly and the Constitution Drafting Committee.

The United Resistance Government was introduced at the first session of the first National Assembly on March 2, 1946. (Archival photo)

Subsequently, on February 17, 1946, the elections for the Provincial People's Council and the Commune People's Council were also successfully held. Over 97% of the total number of voters in Ha Tinh province cast their ballots, and the delegates who were Party members nominated by the Viet Minh Front were all elected with high vote counts. As a result, 26 delegates were elected to the Provincial People's Council and 181 delegates were elected to the Commune People's Council.

Immediately after the results were announced, the People's Councils at all levels held their first sessions to discuss policies and measures to consolidate the government, build and protect the new regime, direct the acceleration of production, and prepare for resistance.

These elections were truly great festivals for the people of Ha Tinh, demonstrating patriotism, trust in the Party and President Ho Chi Minh, the will for national independence, and the determination of all strata of the people in the province to protect and build the revolutionary government. Through this, they contributed to the overall success of the general election nationwide, marking a step forward in the maturity of the Vietnamese revolutionary state, opening a new era – an era in which our country has a unified National Assembly and Government, a progressive Constitution, and a fully legitimate system of government to represent the Vietnamese people domestically and internationally.

The election served as the basis for affirming the legitimacy and democratic nature of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam – a state of the people, by the people, and for the people, entrusted by the nation with the responsibility of governing the country, organizing the entire population for resistance and national construction, and resolving all of Vietnam's relations in the international arena.

The responsibility of today's generation

Today, the meaning and spirit of the first General Election remain as valuable as ever. The results of the General Election, with the establishment of the National Assembly and the 1946 Constitution, turned the nation's dream into reality. The reform process has brought our country to a new level. "Our country has never before had such a foundation, potential, position, and international prestige as it does today!"

The Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Party emphasized the task of arousing the aspiration for a prosperous and happy nation. Today's generation has the responsibility to uphold the traditions and spirit of national independence of the 1946 General Election, dedicating themselves wholeheartedly, knowing how to gather, unite, and unleash the strength of the nation combined with the strength of the times in a scientific manner, not afraid of difficulties and hardships, daring to think, daring to act, daring to take responsibility; being dynamic, creative, and dedicating all their intellect, strength, and passion to the common cause. This will inevitably mobilize and utilize resources most effectively, bringing benefits to the community and the country, and leading the nation to ever greater development.

Comrades Le Minh Hung - Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party, Chief of the Central Party Office; Hoang Trung Dung - Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council, Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation; Tran The Dung - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee exchanged views with voters on the sidelines of the voter consultation meeting on December 5, 2023.

Inheriting the rich cultural and revolutionary traditions, over the years, the Party Committee and people of Ha Tinh have united to continue writing a glorious chapter in history, creating a new image and improving the material and spiritual lives of the people.

With a tradition spanning 78 years and building upon the experiences of previous delegates, worthy of the trust and affection of the Party and the people, the Provincial National Assembly Delegation and the National Assembly Deputies of Ha Tinh continue to fulfill their roles and responsibilities well, actively participating in lawmaking activities, effectively and efficiently exercising their supreme oversight power, contributing to making accurate decisions on important national issues; innovating and improving the work of addressing people's concerns, promptly grasping the aspirations and opinions of voters, propagating and mobilizing all strata of the people to effectively implement the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's laws and regulations, and accompanying the political tasks of the locality.

Quang Duc

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/chinh-tri/cuoc-tong-tuyen-cu-dau-tien-buoc-ngoat-lich-su-vi-dai/259880.htm