Expanding and promoting democracy

The fact is that democracy is seriously violated in some places by a segment of the population, including cadres and Party members who have lost trust in the Party leadership. Such violations lend a helping hand to hostile forces to carry out “the peaceful evolution” scheme aimed at denying the democratic nature of the State.

Being well aware of the importance of expanding and promoting democracy in the entire society, the Party and State have issued policies on democratic practice, which have received an active response from all sections of the population. Particularly, Regulations on Grassroots Democracy issued by the Party Political Bureau in 1998 breathed new life into society.

However, democracy is a pressing issue that requires the Party and State to maintain and strengthen the democratic nature of the revolutionary state. The fact is that our democracy is at a low level. At the State level, the legal system is insufficient and inconsistent; the apparatus is cumbersome, functionally overlapping and inefficient; and a segment of ranking officials and State workers are morally degraded. Consequently, violations of democratic regulations in enforcing the State power continue to occur in many places.

Meanwhile, a majority of Vietnamese people have a low education and poor knowledge of the legal system and democracy. Some even capitalise on democracy to serve their own interests. In general, it is difficult to promote democratic practice in an under-developed country where old customs and habits die hard and hostile forces still try to sabotage the nation by all means. Therefore, expanding and promoting democracy should be based on certain principles, in which the leadership of the Party is considered a primary factor.

Practising democracy requires effective means. The most important mean is to successfully build the law-governed socialist State of Vietnam – the state of the people, for the people, and by the people. Such a state not only represents the interests and aspirations of the people, but also carries out the function of social management. In that State, workers have professional skills, firm political stance, good virtue and healthy lifestyle.

Expanding democracy goes along with tightening State principles and laws. Vietnam is determined to fight against the democratic ideology of reactionary forces living in exile and political opportunists and dissidents inside the country, which press the Vietnamese State to adapt to western-style democracy with the aim of denying the leadership of the Party, establishing a multi-party regime and promoting the western-style freedom of speech and press.

Democracy is a meaningful word, but above all it is one of the criteria any society has to adopt. Despite different viewpoints, democracy is viewed as a product of history. Therefore, it depends on different elements, such as social and economic development levels and traditional cultures of the community and the State. Democracy is not a value that is either imposed subjectively or imported mechanically. The global trend can affect the democracy of a certain nation, but in the long run it can hardly change the genuine democracy of a nation without considering its internal elements. In a nutshell, different nations have different styles of democracy and different ways of practising it. 

Solutions
To continue building and perfecting the law-governed socialist State of the people, by the people and for the people in the current situation, it is imperative to implement a series of solutions persistently and effectively as follows:

First, identifying the supreme position of the law, particularly in the country ruled by a Party. To avoid power abuse, it is necessary to build an advanced and consistent legal system. All individuals and organisations must abide by the law. There is no exception.

In many cases the law is not strictly observed despite specific regulations. On the one hand, specific mechanisms that bring the law to life are no longer appropriate. On the other hand, law enforcement agencies have proven to be inefficient. There is no alternative but to finalise the inspection mechanism to mobilise and promote the role of social organisations and citizens involved in State affairs.

Second, building a transparent, healthy and efficient apparatus. The State apparatus is currently cumbersome and functionally overlapping with poor efficiency. Over the past years, Vietnam has streamlined the apparatus, but the results have not live up to expectations. In addition, the existing administrative procedures remain complicated, creating problems for many people. So to speak, accelerating administrative reform is a must.

To increase the efficiency of the State apparatus, it is necessary to renew the functions of the National Assembly and People’s Councils at the grassroots levels as well as the judicial sector so that they can perform objectively and effectively.

Third, having a contingent of well-qualified State personnel with a high command of professionalism, political stance and good ethics. There is no denying that many opportunists still work in State agencies without being detected and dismissed.

To have a contingent of well-qualified personnel, the State should renew ways of discovering, recruiting, promoting and treating talented people, alongside tightening principles so that they show their responsibility and have no chance of getting involved in negative phenomena.

Fourth, enhancing people’s general knowledge and understanding about all aspects of life. It is necessary to continue renewing mechanisms to help people promote their mastery right. In fact, due to poor means of protection, many people who are outspoken against negative happenings in society are often subject to acts of revenge. This puts a damper on the combative spirit of a certain number of people, even cadres and Party members.

In addition, it is also necessary to hold forums for people to express their opinions on the Party and State. To do so, the country should strengthen the role and function of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and mass organisations.