President Ho Chi Minh's Legacy: From Party Unity to Social Consensus

“I have only one party, the Vietnamese Party” - That was the declaration of President Ho Chi Minh before the National Assembly, before the nation, before the world, at the Second Session of the First National Assembly (October 31, 1946). That was the affirmation of the Founder of the Party, building the State institution and paving the way for national construction, and that was also a declaration of lasting value, because the Party is not an organization for officials to get rich, but the Party always accompanies the nation, for the nation, upholding the strategy of great national unity for the goals and aspirations of the people.

Uncle Ho at the 3rd National Party Congress (September 5, 1960). Photo archive

Ho Chi Minh's thought on great national unity is a system of scientific viewpoints and has lasting value on the Party always being a pioneer in the strategy of great national unity, broad solidarity, creating strength in the organization of the Front and social consensus. His thought on great unity has an important guiding meaning for the cause of national construction, contributing to the fight against all plots and tricks to sabotage the great national unity bloc. "We must use unity to turn around our destiny, preserve the nation and protect our country." The history of our nation has forged a golden table of traditional values, the most prominent and consistent to this day is the tradition of solidarity and community cohesion. Since the Party was born, founded by leader Ho Chi Minh, it has become an important subject and the center of great national unity on the basis of defining the strategic guidelines and tactics for our national unity.

The strategy of great solidarity contributes to protecting and developing the Party. President Ho Chi Minh taught that a united Party must penetrate deep into the masses, wholeheartedly serve the masses, make the masses love the Party, believe in the Party, strive to support the Party and voluntarily accept the Party's leadership. He affirmed: "Strive to serve the people, strengthen the relationship between the people and the Party, promptly inform the Party of the people's needs, explain to the people to imbibe and implement the Party's policies".

Party unity, national unity and the flesh-and-blood bond between the Party and the people create great strength for our nation to overcome countless difficulties and challenges, and defeat all enemies. Before passing away, in his Testament - a few words left for the entire Party and the entire people, President Ho advised: Unity is an extremely precious tradition of the Party and of our people. Comrades from the Central Committee to the Party cells need to "preserve the unity and unanimity of the Party as if preserving the pupil of their eye". Unity within the Party is the condition and solid foundation for building a national solidarity bloc. According to him, to bring the revolution to success, there must be a revolutionary force strong enough to defeat the enemy and successfully build a new society; to have a strong revolutionary force, there must be great unity, gathering all revolutionary forces into a solid bloc. He said: "Our history teaches us this lesson: When our people are united, our country is independent and free. On the contrary, when our people are not united, we are invaded by foreign countries. So now we must know how to unite, unite quickly, unite firmly..." Because, in the sky, nothing is more precious than the people. In the world, nothing is stronger than the united force of the people. He soon saw that the Vietnamese peasant class was a potential revolutionary force with great potential. If it was skillfully organized and led, that force would turn the world upside down. "All colonialists and feudalists would be defeated by that great force." Only when the Party raises high the flag of great solidarity can the Party's future be successful. Only when there is a broad social foundation can the Party's cause be successful and solid. "Unity, unity, great unity/Success, success, great success". Unity is not a political trick, but an art and a law of cause and effect. He emphasized that: "Without unity, there will be decline and loss. With unity, there will be prosperity and survival. We must use unity to turn our destiny around, preserve the nation and protect our country".

Uncle Ho with ethnic minorities. Photo: Archive

The Party accompanies and fights against plots to sabotage the great unity bloc. In the current situation, the issue of urgent requirements for the Party's mass mobilization work, that is, the issue of establishing and building the relationship between the Party and the people, has become increasingly important in order to protect the Party. Our people have been protecting the achievements of the revolution, maintaining independence, sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, maintaining national security and firmly protecting the socialist Fatherland of Vietnam; the people always have faith in the country's path of development, trust in the leadership of the Party and the management of the State. The Party always accompanies and holds high the flag of great national unity, which is the "main driving force for national development". The important lesson learned is: "Solidarity within the Party is the nucleus, the solid foundation for building solidarity in the political system, great national unity and international solidarity". Solidarity here is based on the Party's goals and ideals, on the interests of the working class, the working people and the entire nation, on the basis of compliance with the Party's operating principles, on the basis of respecting personal opinions, even though those opinions are reserved within the Party organization, and on solidarity based on mutual love and comradeship. This is different from formal and fake unity, but is real solidarity so that the ruling Communist Party becomes the core force, leading socio-political organizations and leading the entire society. The practical achievements of great national unity are due to the promotion of the strength of great national unity, the superiority of the socialist regime, the synchronous and drastic participation of the entire political system under the correct leadership of the Party, and the unanimous support of the people. Thoroughly imbued with Ho Chi Minh's thought, each cadre, party member, and head of the Party Committee must follow the example of the martyrs, actively cultivate and practice moral qualities, strengthen the trust between the Party and the people, create a solid foundation for the Party's leadership over society, which is the basis for maintaining political stability, developing the country, worthy of President Ho Chi Minh's advice: "Our Party is a ruling Party. Each party member and cadre must truly imbue revolutionary ethics, truly be thrifty, honest, impartial and selfless; must truly be worthy of being a leader, a truly loyal servant of the people". Pay attention to and properly resolve the issue of people's rights and interests . The Party and State are always for the people, taking care of the progressive development of the people. Maximize the people's rights as masters and owners. Democracy from the grassroots level and in the political system at all levels; Uphold the motto: People know, people discuss, people do, people inspect, people supervise, people benefit. Must pay attention to ethnic minorities, religious people; constantly eliminate hunger, reduce multidimensional poverty, improve the living standards of ethnic minorities, especially those in mountainous, remote, isolated and border areas; encourage people to promote internal strength, self-reliance, self-reliance, and the spirit of rising up in economic development, building cultural villages. Fight against all plots and tricks to sabotage solidarity within the Party and divide the great national solidarity bloc. Currently, there are many distorted and wrong arguments denying the principle of solidarity and unity within the Party. They spread that: Party members are numerous, communists are absent; factions and factions; Borrowing the name of anti-corruption to fight and purge factions, leading to cadres being dismissed, "deposed", causing political instability in recent times;... Here, it is necessary to recognize that: Solidarity and unity within the Party has been a glorious tradition since its inception until now, even through difficult times, our Party has maintained its spirit and collective intelligence. Up to now, our Party has affirmed that stepping up the fight against corruption and negativity is inevitable, for the Party and the nation to develop sustainably, stably and prosperously. Although there are cadres, even high-ranking cadres, who have been forced to resign from their positions in recent times, it is the result of the work of building a clean and strong Party, not "political instability", because our Party always implements the principle of "collective leadership", "collective leadership", "collective leadership" to maintain the line and stability, progressive and civilized development. Propaganda, education, fostering and promoting the great national unity bloc, at the same time being vigilant and preventing all activities that take advantage of religious freedom and go against the national interests, especially activities that take advantage of people in religious robes to achieve selfish goals, divide religions, and incite people to commit acts that violate current laws. Our Party has affirmed: Respect and ensure citizens' freedom of religious belief and freedom of non-religious belief. All citizens are equal in obligations and rights before the law, without distinction between religious and non-religious people, as well as between different religions. Article 5 of the 2013 Constitution stipulates: "All ethnic groups are equal, united, respect and help each other to develop together; all acts of ethnic discrimination and division are strictly prohibited". Upholding the spirit of national reconciliation and harmony, without distinction of region, ethnicity, religion, origin, or social status; Move towards eliminating all hatred, prejudice, and national inferiority complex, looking towards the future in a spirit of openness, respect, sympathy, and mutual trust. Resolutely eliminate superstition and bad customs that are inconsistent with good traditions and teachings; identify, be vigilant, and condemn actions that take advantage of incidents, hot spots, and social grievances to entice and sabotage solidarity within the Party and the great solidarity of our entire nation, aiming to build a unified and powerful Vietnam.

Dr. Le Trung Kien

Ho Chi Minh Institute and Party Leaders, Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics

source: https://baochinhphu.vn/di-san-chu-tich-ho-chi-minh-tu-doan-ket-trong-dang-den-dong-thuan-xa-hoi-102240518220545524.htm