Amendment to the 2013 Constitution: more clearly affirming the position of the Vietnam Fatherland Front

On May 20, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front held a conference to preliminarily assess the results of collecting opinions on the draft Resolution amending and supplementing a number of articles of the 2013 Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam within the Vietnam Fatherland Front system.

Mr. Do Van Chien, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, Central mass organizations, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, Party Central Committee member, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, Central mass organizations, Vice President - General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; Mr. Hoang Cong Thuy, Vice President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front chaired the Conference.

Chairing the Conference - Photo: VGP/Toan Thang

Over 38,000 comments in the Vietnam Fatherland Front system

Presenting an initial report summarizing the preliminary results of collecting opinions on the draft Resolution within the Vietnam Fatherland Front system, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Hoang Cong Thuy stated that the leadership and direction of organizing the collection of opinions within the Vietnam Fatherland Front system was carried out promptly, seriously and methodically.

Up to now, the Fatherland Front of the provinces of Binh Thuan, Lai Chau, Lang Son, Tuyen Quang, Dien Bien, Quang Tri, Thanh Hoa, Da Nang, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and the Vietnam Farmers' Union have organized 6,558 conferences to discuss and collect extensive opinions from union members, association members, and members of each organization.

At the same time, promote the role and active participation of members of the Presidium, members of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, the Advisory Council, former leaders of the Fatherland Front; lawyers, experts, scientists in the legal field...

Newspapers, magazines, e-newspapers, Fanpages of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations... all opened special pages and columns on collecting opinions on the draft Resolution, regularly updated directives and instructions related to collecting opinions; posted hundreds of articles related to the process of organizing the collection of opinions and specific comments on the content of the draft Resolution of the Front and comments on the draft Resolution.

Along with the process of organizing the collection of opinions, the Vietnam Fatherland Front has strengthened propaganda and ideological orientation to create high consensus and unity with the amendment and supplementation of the Constitution; encouraged union members, association members, and people from all walks of life to actively participate in giving opinions on the draft Resolution, especially through the VneID application deployed by the Ministry of Public Security.

Regarding the preliminary results of collecting opinions on the draft Resolution, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Hoang Cong Thuy said that the scope of this amendment and supplement to the Constitution is brief, focusing on only 8/120 articles of the 2013 Constitution to promptly institutionalize the Party's policy on arranging the agencies of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, socio-political organizations, and mass organizations assigned by the Party and State; perfecting the model of organizing 2-level local governments in the direction of being closer to the people, serving the people better.

Delegates attending the Conference - Photo: VGP/Toan Thang

Through monitoring and synthesis, the Standing Committee found that the discussion and comments were very focused, going straight to the contents and provisions amended and supplemented in the Constitution. Preliminary statistics showed that there were 538,752 comments in the Fatherland Front system on the provisions amended and supplemented in the draft Resolution.

"The majority of opinions expressed high consensus on the necessity of amending and supplementing a number of articles of the 2013 Constitution and hoped that the new points in the Draft Resolution amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Constitution would effectively serve the organization and operation of the Vietnam Fatherland Front as well as the policy of building a two-level local government," informed the Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front.

The majority of opinions agree and approve the revised and supplemented contents.

Regarding the results of comments on specific provisions of the draft Resolution, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Hoang Cong Thuy said that for regulations related to the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the total number of comments on Article 9 was 89,998, of which 89,916 were in favor, 82 were in favor and there were suggestions for further amendments and improvements.

The total number of comments on Article 10 was 87,624, of which 87,459 were in favor and 165 were in favor with amendments and improvements. The total number of comments was 82,963, of which 82,833 were in favor and 130 were in favor with amendments and improvements.

In general, the majority of opinions agreed and highly agreed with the amendments and supplements in Articles 9, 10, Clause 1, Article 84 of the Constitution and all agreed that the amendments and supplements in Article 9 of the 2013 Constitution have more clearly affirmed the position of the Vietnam Fatherland Front as a part of the political system led by the Communist Party of Vietnam, the political foundation of the people's government; adding regulations on socio-political organizations "under the direct control" of the Vietnam Fatherland Front in Clause 2, Article 9 and Article 10 of the 2013 Constitution is a breakthrough, consistent with the Party's policies and resolutions in the current period, especially with Resolution No. 60-NQ/TW dated April 12, 2025 of the 11th Conference of the 13th Party Central Committee.

Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Hoang Cong Thuy presented an initial report summarizing the results of collecting opinions on the draft Resolution within the Vietnam Fatherland Front system - Photo: VGP/Toan Thang

According to Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Hoang Cong Thuy, in addition, a number of opinions also emerged during the discussion and participation in giving opinions (including opinions expressed by National Assembly Deputies discussing in groups and the Hall at the 9th session).

Accordingly, some opinions suggested rephrasing the content in Clause 1 to be more concise and logical; suggested considering adding the content "The Vietnam Fatherland Front is part of the political system of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, led by the Communist Party of Vietnam" to Clause 1 because Article 4 of the current Constitution already stipulates this content; suggested replacing the phrase "The Vietnam Fatherland Front is part of the political system..." with the phrase "The Vietnam Fatherland Front is part of the political system...".

Some opinions are still concerned about the use of the phrase "directly under the Vietnam Fatherland Front" in Clause 2 because it is administrative in nature, while the 5 socio-political organizations are voluntary federations; the Vietnam Fatherland Front does not have the function of leading socio-political organizations, so socio-political organizations are not "directly under" or "belong" to the Vietnam Fatherland Front. Therefore, it is proposed to remove the phrase "directly under the Vietnam Fatherland Front" because the phrase "organized and operating uniformly within the Vietnam Fatherland Front" has expressed this content or replace it with a regulation that these organizations are "core members" of the Vietnam Fatherland Front.

Also according to Vice Chairman Hoang Cong Thuy, some opinions suggested retaining the regulation on the right to submit draft laws and ordinances of 5 socio-political organizations because these socio-political organizations are also a part of the political system.

It is argued that currently, socio-political organizations have focused on the Vietnam Fatherland Front, therefore, it is proposed to amend and supplement Clause 8, Article 96 of the 2013 Constitution to stipulate the coordination mechanism between the Government and the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and the central agencies of socio-political organizations; inviting to attend Government meetings when discussing related issues to ensure consistency in the contents of the Constitution.

"Some specific opinions on the expression and techniques in Articles 9 and 10 are made to ensure brevity and logic, while maintaining the generality of the Constitution and clearly demonstrating the nature and role of the Vietnam Fatherland Front in the political system," Vice Chairman Hoang Cong Thuy stated.

The majority of opinions agreed with the revised and supplemented contents of the draft resolution and ensured that it was consistent with the policy of streamlining the organizational apparatus of the political system, organizing two-level local governments, and ending the operation of district-level administrative units.

Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Hoang Cong Thuy asked delegates to promote democracy, concentrate their intelligence, uphold responsibility, and continue to give opinions on the content and provisions amended and supplemented by the 2013 Constitution and the draft Report on preliminary results of collecting opinions within the Vietnam Fatherland Front system on the draft Resolution.

"The Standing Committee will direct the recording, synthesis and presentation of complete and objective comments from you, gentlemen and comrades, and complete the Report to be sent to the Government and the Committee for drafting amendments and supplements to the 2013 Constitution within the required deadline," Vice President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Hoang Cong Thuy emphasized.

Toan Thang

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/sua-doi-hien-phap-2013-khang-dinh-ro-hon-vi-the-cua-mttq-viet-nam-10225052015335764.htm