From the Declaration of Independence to building a state of the people, by the people, for the people

Since the first general election to elect the first National Assembly, the Vietnamese people have truly become masters. In the photo: The 3rd session of the 15th National Assembly discussed and decided on many important issues. Photo: VNA

The immortal manifesto

The Declaration of Independence, drafted and read by President Ho Chi Minh on behalf of the entire people, is the third Declaration of Independence in the history of our nation's founding and defense. This Declaration of Independence inherits the quintessence of the two previous Declarations of Independence, along with the proclamations and proclamations of our ancestors, to further emphasize the people's right to master the country and the determination to protect the national independence and sovereignty that had just been regained through the arduous struggle and heroic sacrifice of the entire people: "Vietnam has the right to enjoy freedom and independence and has in fact become a free and independent country. The entire Vietnamese people are determined to devote all their spirit and strength, their lives and property to maintaining that freedom and independence."

The August Revolution of 1945 gave birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam - a state of the people, by the people, for the people. The establishment of a people's democratic regime is an affirmation and consolidation of the achievements of the August Revolution. Following the path of the Russian October Revolution of 1917, creatively applying the experience of this first proletarian revolution, the August Revolution of Vietnam did not immediately carry out the construction of a proletarian dictatorship but continued to complete the strategic task of national liberation, building a people's democratic regime to advance to socialism. Regarding this, our Party has determined that the national liberation revolution was initially successful in the August Revolution, but the Indochina revolution at this time was still a national liberation revolution. That revolution is ongoing, it is not yet complete, because our country is not yet completely independent. The proletariat's task of national salvation is not yet complete, the proletariat must enthusiastically and resolutely complete that sacred task. The slogan is still: Nation above all, Fatherland above all.

Immediately after declaring the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, one of the Party's top priorities was to consolidate and strengthen the power of the government apparatus from the central to the grassroots levels. President Ho Chi Minh clearly stated "How to organize the People's Committees" according to the principle: "... Viet Minh or outside Viet Minh, everyone has the right to run for or vote for people in these committees". He also affirmed that the Government is the servant of the people. The work of the Government must aim at the sole purpose of seeking freedom and happiness for all people. Therefore, the People's Government always puts the people's interests above all else: "We must understand that the Government agencies from the whole country to the villages are all servants of the people, meaning they are meant to shoulder the common work for the people, not to oppress the people as in the period under French and Japanese rule. Whatever is beneficial to the people, we must do our utmost. Whatever is harmful to the people, we must avoid at all costs. We must love and respect the people, then the people will love and respect us."

The state must bring freedom, democracy and happiness to the people.

According to Him, the People's Committees at all levels also "have the duty to implement freedom and democracy for the people. It must act in accordance with that spirit of freedom and democracy". The requirements and principles for building the state apparatus as well as the spirit and attitude of cadres and party members of a ruling party must originate from the ideals, goals and nature of the Party; from the aspirations and strength of the people in the struggle for power. Under the Party's initiative and leadership, our people fought bravely to gain complete and thorough independence, maintain national sovereignty, unify the Fatherland and build a happy, prosperous, free, democratic and progressive life. In the revolutionary cause, the Party must rely on the people, bringing prosperity and happiness to the people. President Ho Chi Minh's viewpoint is very clear: "Today, we have built the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. But if the country is independent but the people do not enjoy happiness and freedom, then independence is meaningless".

Immediately after the August Revolution, in a situation where the country faced many difficulties due to internal and external enemies, our Party still focused on building a people's democratic regime, while simultaneously solving urgent tasks: eliminating "famine", "ignorance", and foreign invaders. The building of a people's democratic regime was carried out on many fronts, aiming to maintain and develop the achievements gained in the revolution. The organization of the General Election, the election of the 1st National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (January 6, 1946), and the adoption of the first Constitution consolidated and legalized the revolutionary government. A government truly owned by the people, the people were allowed to participate in the government, participate in discussing and deciding on all important national affairs, and elect representatives of the state apparatus...

The construction of the government apparatus, following Ho Chi Minh's ideology on a State of the people, by the people, for the people, is an important factor leading to the great victories of the Vietnamese revolution, under the leadership of the Party, through historical periods since President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence to establish the Democratic Republic of Vietnam until now...

Since the August Revolution, the building of a people's democratic government advancing toward socialism has demonstrated that the Vietnamese people have realized what the Declaration of Independence affirmed: "A nation that has courageously fought against French slavery for more than 80 years, a nation that has courageously stood with the Allies against fascism for several years, that nation must be free! That nation must be independent." Reality also proves that, under the leadership of the Party, our people have both maintained independence and freedom and strived to realize the goal of a rich people, a strong country, democracy, fairness, and civilization.

Prof. Dr. PHAN NGOC LIEN

(Excerpt from the book "President Ho Chi Minh: Strategic vision of the new era in the Declaration of Independence")