A grand meeting was held on January 6 in Hanoi to celebrate 70 years of the first general election of the Vietnamese National Assembly, with the participation of Party, State, National Assembly and Government leaders as well as former leaders and international guests.
Addressing the ceremony, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said the first general election in 1946 was held on the principles of democracy, directness and secret ballot, with all Vietnamese citizens aged 18 years or older casting their votes, despite sabotage of hostile and dissident forces.
 |
| Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong speaks at the grand meeting __Photo: Nhan Sang/VNA |
The event was a great landmark in establishing a democratic institution and opened a new development stage of the country, the Party leader said, adding that for the first time in history, the Vietnamese people as slaves had become citizens of a free and independent nation.
“Victory of the general election in 1946 was victory of patriotism, a democratic republic political system established for the first time, and a correct revolutionary path,” the Party chief noted, citing that over the past 70 years, the National Assembly with 13 tenures had increasingly developed and effectively performed its functions, duties and powers in accordance with the Constitution and laws.
The Party leader emphasized the historical stages of the National Assembly, citing its contributions to strengthening of national independence, building of a democratic republic state, success of the resistance war against colonialists, economic and cultural restoration and development, and building of a people’s democratic regime.
Trong said since 1976 after the national reunification, the legislatures of the sixth thru thirteenth tenures has fulfilled their role with substantial changes in organization and operation.
The Constitutions passed in 1980, 1992 and 2013 have established an important political and legal foundation for the development of a socialist democracy and building of a law-ruled socialist state, guaranteeing human rights and lawful rights and interests of citizens, thus contributing to national renewal and international integration, he said.
The Party leader also pointed to difficulties and challenges facing the country in 2016 and subsequent years, which require solidarity and consensus among the entire Party, people and army for fast and sustainable national development.
He said the National Assembly should make careful preparations for successful election of deputies to the 14th Legislature, scheduled for May 22 this year, ensuring democracy, equality, lawfulness, security and thrift.
In his speech, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said the first general election had vested the National Assembly with an important responsibility to promulgate the Constitution and establish institutions of a people’s democratic state, adding that under the Party leadership, the National Assembly had always received people’s help in the struggle for national independence, freedom and unification, as well as in national construction and defense and international integration.
Every constitution, code, law, resolution and decision of the National Assembly is always associated with the nation’s destiny and is a clever combination of the Party’s line and people’s aspirations, he said.
The National Assembly’s achievements are a combination of strengths of the national great unity bloc and joint efforts of the National Assembly and related bodies, and show the confidence and consensus of the people and society, Hung said.
The people’s confidence in and empowerment for the National Assembly through elections are a democratic foundation for forming a state of the people, by the people and for the people, the NA National Assembly leader noted.
“I believe that with its traditions and experience gained over the past 70 years, and with the sense of responsibility before the people and nation’s future, the National Assembly will surely fulfill its assigned duties to deserve the trust of the Party and people,” Hung said.- (VLLF)
