Firm belief, will and determination contribute to victory and success

The election of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 term took place in a context of many difficulties and challenges at home and abroad. Domestically, people were excited and happy with the success of the 13th National Party Congress, the country's socio -economic situation was stable, and economic growth was encouraging in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic causing a serious recession in many economies of countries around the world.

The entire political system, from the central to local levels, actively participated in preparing well for the election. Photo: VGP/Quang Hieu

2021 is also the first year of implementing the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, which identified the election of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 term as one of the key political tasks of the entire Party, people and army. This is an extremely important political activity and a broad democratic activity among all classes of people. It is an opportunity for our people to exercise their right to mastery through the selection and election of exemplary representatives who are truly virtuous and talented, worthy of representing the people in the National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels. Strengthening and building a socialist rule-of-law state, of the people, by the people and for the people. However, this is also an opportunity for hostile and opportunistic forces to take advantage of democracy and freedom to use sophisticated tricks to distort, entice, and sabotage the election in many different ways, especially in cyberspace.

With the increasingly widespread development of media, anti-government forces have switched to many important information dissemination channels such as social networks, newspapers, and channels on Youtube, etc., spreading documents, videos, articles, and reports calling for "election boycotts", calling for human rights and democracy, and editing and distorting cases of people's complaints and gatherings. Most of the news articles, reports, clips, and interviews all focus on a purposeful and familiar way: eliminating the Party's leadership, demanding democracy, requesting changes to the Constitution, supporting political pluralism and multi-party opposition, claiming that the National Assembly is not the highest authority, representative of the people, exaggerating the weakness in economic development due to the one-party leadership mechanism, etc. Although these arguments are not new, many people have fallen into the trap, directly or indirectly participating in activities organized by illegal forces and organizations to sabotage the government and sabotage the election.

The arguments that these forces often focus on are the issue of self-nomination for National Assembly and People's Council deputies, claiming that the Party's leadership is autocratic and authoritarian, and that the election personnel have been pre-arranged. In general, these views are one-sided, showing subjectivity in assessing the election.

Firstly, President Ho Chi Minh's viewpoint on selecting talents and calling on talented people to help the country has always been thoroughly grasped and applied by our Party throughout the Party's revolutionary process. In the election directive documents, the targets for self-nominated candidates have always been set out in order to maximize democracy, not to miss any candidates. Anyone who meets the conditions and standards and submits their application within the time limit prescribed by law has the right to run for the National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels.

Second, many distorted and unrealistic views say that self-nomination is only for non-Party members, but not for Party members. This is completely incorrect because according to Instruction 36/HD-BTCTW on personnel for candidates for the National Assembly and People's Councils, it is clearly stipulated that Party members can self-nominate for National Assembly deputies. It can be seen that the scope and subjects of candidates for National Assembly and People's Council deputies at all levels are very broad, demonstrating broad democracy within the Party and among the People.

Third, candidates nominated by organizations or agencies or self-nominated candidates must go through rounds of consultation and get opinions from voters at their place of residence and workplace.

Pursuant to Clause 1, Article 26 and Clause 1, Article 28 of Joint Resolution No. 09/2021/NQLT-UBTVQH14-CP-DCTUBTWMTQVN of the 14th National Assembly Standing Committee, the Government and the Presidium of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, candidates who do not gain the trust of more than 50% of the total number of voters attending the Conference of voters at their place of residence will not be included in the list of candidates recommended at the 3rd Consultative Conference.

Thus, the regulations on the election of National Assembly deputies and People's Council deputies this time determine that organizing the collection of voters' opinions is a very important step to screen out qualified deputies, those who are truly representative, worthy of representing the will, aspirations and mastery of the people with the motto "people know, people discuss, people do, people inspect, people supervise, people benefit".

Reality shows that the number of self-nominated candidates who are anti-government and hostile elements is almost non-existent and cannot be infiltrated. They often stand behind, hide behind, take advantage of democracy, incite the people, and increase the propaganda that the election is not democratic and not objective. Reality proves that after the 3rd Consultation, there were 9 self-nominated candidates for the 15th National Assembly, 18 self-nominated candidates for the People's Council at the provincial level, 29 at the district level, and 213 at the commune level. Among these self-nominated candidates, there are both Party members and non-Party members.

Some other arguments say that non-Party members cannot run for election and cannot win the election, with the intention of dividing the people's forces. It can be affirmed that throughout the process of formation and development of the nation's revolution, from the time the Party was in its infancy until its establishment, leading the people to gain power and becoming the ruling Party until now, our Party has always maintained its principles, purposes, and ideals, apart from the interests of the Fatherland and the People, our Party has no other interests. In the Party or outside the Party, everyone is united in the interests of the nation and the people, the Fatherland above all, the people above all. Whether Party members or not, everyone is united in the interests of the nation and the people.

Thoroughly implementing the spirit of Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh's thought: "A nation, a party and each individual, who were great and had great appeal yesterday, are not necessarily loved and praised by everyone today and tomorrow if their hearts are no longer pure, if they fall into individualism", the Politburo and the Central Executive Committee of the 12th and 13th terms continue to promote the work of Party building and rectification, resolutely handle corruption, and strengthen the building of a clean and strong Party. In Directive No. 45-CT/TW dated June 20, 2020 of the Politburo on leading the election of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 term, it is clearly stated that it is resolute not to introduce candidates for the National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels who are unworthy or unqualified, especially those who have degraded moral qualities, are corrupt, seek positions or power, flatter, are arrogant, bureaucratic, cause disunity, and negatively affect the prestige of the Party and the State.

In the process of introducing personnel, Party committees, authorities, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front at all levels always thoroughly grasp and uphold the spirit of responsibility, openness, listening, and resolutely eliminating and not including those who do not meet the conditions and standards, and show signs of degradation in ideology, morality, and lifestyle. The National Election Council and Election Committees at all levels have urgently and seriously coordinated with agencies and units to verify when there are petitions and denunciations against candidates for the National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels. Cases showing signs of violating the law, declaring dishonest personal history, violating political standards, etc. will be screened according to the step-by-step process and through the 2nd and 3rd rounds of consultation. In cases where candidates have been officially listed, their names will be withdrawn or removed from the list according to regulations. All candidates, regardless of whether they are party members or not, from all walks of life, are fair and equal before the law. Those who are not worthy of participating in the National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels will be resolutely eliminated.

Some other arguments aimed at human rights, women's rights, ethnic minorities, etc. These arguments not only appeared in this election but also appeared on many other occasions and major events of the nation. With the aim of dividing the great national unity bloc, taking advantage of the ignorance of some bad elements in the border areas, reactionary forces, colluding and sponsoring these elements to entice and incite ethnic minority people to oppose the policies of the Party and the State. The State has a consistent viewpoint of caring for and comprehensively developing, building policies to develop ethnic minority areas, contributing to the successful implementation of the national socio-economic development strategy.

Regarding the election of National Assembly deputies and People's Council deputies at all levels, the number of ethnic minority candidates accounts for a high proportion, with 185 out of 866 candidates for National Assembly deputies nationwide, accounting for 21.36%. For candidates for People's Council deputies at all levels in some localities, the proportion of ethnic minority candidates participating in the election is even higher.

Some elements take advantage of religious issues, beliefs, and election opportunities to incite and divide the great national unity bloc, complicating the political security situation and social order and safety in some localities. Vietnam is a multi-religious country. Throughout its formation and development, religions have coexisted in peace, stability, and solidarity. The state has created all conditions for religions to operate in accordance with the law and be equal before the law. Any act of taking advantage of the trust of believers to incite, sabotage, and divide the great national unity bloc with the aim of opposing the government and overthrowing the government will be strictly handled according to the provisions of the law.

The history of the Vietnamese National Assembly has recorded many National Assembly deputies who are religious people who have actively contributed to the activities of the National Assembly, contributing their financial and intellectual resources to the development and prosperity of the country, and have been highly appreciated by voters and people. In this election, in the officially announced list of 866 candidates for National Assembly deputies, there are 22 candidates for National Assembly deputies from the religions of Buddhism, Catholicism, Brahmanism, and Bani.

Thus, by promoting the great national unity bloc, candidates for the National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels not only represent the voice and interests of their sectors and fields, but also promote their intelligence and strength in the cause of national construction and development in general, and are an important factor in building the great national unity bloc.

Although the distorted arguments about the election are not new, they have a great impact on the election work. Therefore, every citizen and voter needs to maintain faith, will, be cautious, and alert in receiving correct and official information, be vigilant against enticements, incitements, and distorted and incorrect arguments of reactionary organizations and individuals, and promote a high sense of responsibility in participating in the election of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 term seriously and in accordance with the law in the exciting and joyful atmosphere of the whole country and well implement measures to prevent and control the COVID-19 epidemic in the locality, contributing significantly to the success and victory of the election - the great festival of the country.

Ta Thi Yen
Head of Department of Delegation Affairs,
Office of the National Assembly
Standing Office of the National Election Council

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