Voice of the key sector in parliament

Right from the first term, the National Assembly had many famous artists and writers such as Nguyen Dinh Thi, Cu Huy Can, Nguyen Huy Tuong, Xuan Dieu... They entered politics as an "urgent duty", showing responsibility for the times, contributing to the creation of invisible but essential values ​​in the development of the nation and people. That tradition was continued in the following National Assembly terms.

Lesson 1:
"Opportunity to work for the country in a positive way"

What makes poets, writers, actors, painters, musicians… temporarily leave their familiar creative spaces to enter the parliament? It is the inner urge of artists and writers about civic responsibility, the deep concern for the fate of the nation…

From "urgent duty"

The August Revolution succeeded, the Provisional Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam was born, but it has not been recognized by any country in the world. On the contrary, the imperialist forces and their lackeys are fiercely fighting against the Communist Party and the Viet Minh, hoping to overthrow the revolutionary government and establish a reactionary government that is a lackey for the imperialists. In addition, the revolutionary government also has to accept a legacy of ruins left by the old regime: industrial bankruptcy, agricultural stagnation, financial exhaustion, and a serious threat of famine. More than 90% of the population is illiterate, and they have no experience in government management...

Enemies both inside and outside, difficulties piled up, putting the revolutionary government in front of a “thousand-pound-hanging-by-a-hair” challenge. In that context, President Ho Chi Minh directed the organization of a general election to elect the National Assembly “as soon as possible” to enact the Constitution and elect an official Government. The decision to hold a general election affirmed the legitimacy of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, opening a new era of democracy and perfecting the rule of law state.

Panorama of the First Session, First National Assembly , March 2, 1946. Photo courtesy

The presence of a series of famous intellectuals and artists in the 1st National Assembly has contributed to affirming the strong spirit of dedication of the artists to the fate of the nation. They entered the parliament with specific action programs, originating from their own strengths and aspirations.

When asked about the reason for running for the National Assembly, painter Nguyen Do Cung, Indochina Fine Arts School (now Vietnam Fine Arts University) answered frankly: "I see the National Assembly as the best opportunity to actively work for the country, so I am running for election." The answer shows the sense of responsibility of a citizen - artist in the face of current events.

Meanwhile, writer Nguyen Huy Tuong, in an interview with the National Assembly newspaper, outlined a clear agenda for the area he was most interested in, which was culture. According to him, in a short time, we must eradicate ignorance, abolish customs, rituals, and corruption; at the same time, we must create a new cultural movement, a new life movement that is abundant and powerful.

As for the “king of love poems” Xuan Dieu, when running for the National Assembly, he did not hesitate to show his fierce dedication and the mindset of an artist and a soldier. “Doing politics, for me, is an urgent duty today.” He made it clear that, in the time of national salvation, all of our people are soldiers... everyone must do politics, everyone must express their will to defend a certain political regime. “I am running for election to defend the people, to destroy backward policies.”

Together with National Assembly delegates in many other fields, the group of artists and writers has contributed to creating the "golden generation" of the National Assembly. They do not consider politics a career. They consider it a sacred duty when the Fatherland needs it. Therefore, poet Xuan Dieu cherished that when independence was secure and people's rights were established, he wished to return to literature. "Because not everyone has all the talents. We should focus on our own expertise to develop our best abilities."

Delegates are artists attending the Third Session of the First National Assembly, December 1953. From left to right: Nguyen Dinh Thi, Huy Can, Nguyen Do Cung, Xuan Dieu, Nguyen Huy Tuong. Photo courtesy

Closer to the people

The spirit of dedication to the "duty" of the nation's destiny continues in later generations of artists and parliamentarians, fostering a new mindset, the mindset of someone who bears a heavy "debt" of gratitude to the people - the target that art always aims for. People's Artist Tra Giang (National Assembly delegate of the 5th, 6th, 7th terms) said that when she first heard that she was nominated to run for election, she was worried because she heard that the name of a National Assembly delegate was too important. "Before going to meet voters and campaign for people to vote for me, I met poet Che Lan Vien (National Assembly delegate of the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th terms) and asked him what he would say; poet Che Lan Vien said, just talk about the responsibility of a citizen, the responsibility of an actor to life and tell people about making films. It sounds simple, but then I also thought back on my acting career and the responsibility of an artist to the current situation."

As a public figure, People's Artist Tra Giang realized that fame is an effective channel to connect with voters. For example, when she ran for election in Quang Ngai (Term VI), a province that had just been liberated for 1 year, there were cultural differences between the North and the South, but fortunately, some of the films she acted in in the North were shown in the South and were loved and welcomed by the people there. "Listening to actors talk is easier to convince, because they find it close, easy to understand, and because life in the film is also the real life of the people" - People's Artist Tra Giang confided, it was this "real life" in art that created favorable conditions for her to enter the parliament, to get closer to the people and voters - the people who elected her.

The period when poet Vu Quan Phuong was a National Assembly delegate (Term IX) was the early period of Doi Moi, when many issues needed to be resolved, especially the complaints of people demanding land and houses after returning from evacuation. He said that almost every week he had to meet with voters and receive petitions. “There was a woman over 40 years old who came to me to ask for help in reclaiming her garage on Nguyen Thuong Hien Street, Hanoi. The government at that time had returned her house but not the garage, so she could not sell the house. She had been running around for a decade, and during that National Assembly term, I and a number of delegates helped her reclaim that garage.”

Poet Vu Quan Phuong believes that as a representative of the people, if people have any questions, he must listen carefully, put himself in the position of the people to solve them, consider the people's affairs as his own... Therefore, people trust him more, come to him to express their thoughts and wishes. Many people from other provinces also do not mind the long distance, come to see him. Thanks to that, he feels closer to the people and understands more about the worries and hardships of workers. And that is also the biggest motivation for artists to speak up in the parliament.

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/tieng-noi-cua-linh-vuc-trong-yeu-tren-nghi-truong-10394767.html