Throughout his revolutionary career, President Ho Chi Minh always aimed for the highest goal of “National independence – civil rights and freedom – people’s happiness”. Because more than anyone else, Ho Chi Minh understood the ancient philosophy of Confucius “People are the root” and of Mencius “People are the most precious, the country comes second, and the king takes it lightly”. From there, Ho Chi Minh determined that the highest position is the people “The people can lift the boat, the people can capsize the boat” and “It is easy ten thousand times without the people, it is easy, it is difficult ten thousand times with the people, it is also possible”, so the people are always the master. With that meaning, the first goal of the Vietnamese revolution that Ho Chi Minh outlined was: The Vietnamese revolution must be a new democratic revolution, in which the core task is “National independence, land for the tillers” and the implementation of universal suffrage in the political field…, aiming to build and perfect the apparatus of the socialist rule of law state “Of the people, by the people, for the people” with the goal of “A rich people, a strong country, democracy, fairness, civilization”.

Party cell, residential group 14, Thuy Xuan ward give gifts to families in difficult circumstances. Photo: Kim Ngan

According to Ho Chi Minh, “People are the root, people are the masters”. He believed that democracy means people are the masters, that is the eternal desire, the most precious thing of the people, as he once said, “In the sky, there is nothing more precious than the people, democracy is the most precious thing of the people. Practicing democracy is like a universal key to solve all difficulties, to make progress and develop”. He wrote in the article Dan Van (October 15, 1949): “Our country is a democratic country. All benefits are for the people. All powers belong to the people. The work of innovation and construction is the responsibility of the people. The government from the commune to the Central Government is elected by the people. The organizations from the Central to the commune are organized by the people. In short, power and strength are in the people”. In which, the core point, the basic and consistent philosophy is to promote the role and status of the People, considering "People as the root", as He once said "In society, there is nothing better and more glorious than serving the interests of the People". Throughout his life, He only strived and sacrificed for the interests of the People, building a peaceful, unified, independent, democratic and prosperous Vietnam. When he returned to the world of the wise, He still did not forget to advise "First of all, work for people".

Ho Chi Minh affirmed the necessity of implementing rights and democracy for all people, because the working people in any era are the basic force of the revolution. He once pointed out: Without the people's strength, no matter how easy or small the task is, it cannot be completed. Therefore, immediately after the Democratic Republic of Vietnam was born, the Party and the Government had to deal with many difficulties, challenges, sieges, isolation from internal and external enemies... To ensure the people's lives, President Ho Chi Minh instructed: We must act immediately, so that people have food, clothing, housing, education, freedom of movement, health care, and the freedom they deserve as owners and "Make people know how to enjoy democratic rights, know how to use their democratic rights"... That is the spirit of respecting and serving the people that he always aimed for, in order to ensure that democracy is institutionalized and implemented in all areas and levels of social life. This, in the "Communist Manifesto", C. Marx and F. Engels also pointed out: The free development of each person is the condition for the free development of all people. This is the intrinsic purpose of history, the humane and humane nature of society – Socialism. It can be said that “People” is the soul, the vitality of democracy in Ho Chi Minh’s thought according to the understanding “Officials are temporary – people are eternal”.

More than anyone else, Ho Chi Minh understood the rights and status of the People, so throughout his life of revolutionary activities, he paid special attention to the issue of building and practicing democracy in all areas of life. Even in the last minute before passing away, in his sacred Testament, he did not forget to turn to the People, wishing that the People would promote their mastery to the highest level, to have a free, prosperous and happy life, because "Only by promoting democracy to the highest level can we mobilize all the forces of the People to move the revolution forward". Reality shows that the more democracy is promoted and widely implemented, the more it creates boundless strength to firmly build a political institution led by the Party, the more practically it enhances the leadership capacity, fighting strength, prestige and sustainability of a ruling Party. Thus, it is necessary to expand democracy to promote the strength of the entire people. He often said: Setting out work and issuing resolutions is not difficult, the problem is implementing them. Who will implement them? - Collective, masses. Therefore, with democracy, collective discussion will lead to clarity, consensus, and determination to implement, avoiding "Drums beating in one direction, trumpets blowing in the other" and "Only with democracy can cadres and masses come up with initiatives".

The important thing that President Ho Chi Minh was concerned about all his life was how all the power of the people as masters must be guaranteed and respected. Because, the people only see their position as masters, see the value of independence and freedom when they are well fed, warmly dressed..., and conversely, he pointed out that "If the country is independent, but the people are still hungry, cold, miserable, and do not enjoy freedom and happiness, then independence is meaningless".

The core point in Ho Chi Minh's thought on the issue of building and implementing socialist democracy is the role and status of the People: "The People are the root", "The People are the masters and the People are the masters". That democracy is nothing other than the purpose of ensuring human rights and civil rights are expressed in all areas of social life, from politics, economics, to culture, society..., directly aimed at solving social issues, social policies and social security for people, for people. His philosophy of being for the people, close to the people, and respecting the people forever enlightens our Party and State to fully realize the goal of "A rich people, a strong country, democracy, fairness, civilization", which is the driving force of the cause of innovation and international integration.

NGUYEN DINH DUNG