Completing the mechanisms for implementing the motto “the people know, the people discuss, the people do, the people inspect, the people supervise, the people benefit”

DR. NGUYEN THI TO UYEN
Institute of Party Building,
Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics

1. Introduction

The people are always positioned at the center, serving as the active subject of history and a precious resource for the country’s development strategy, industrialization and modernization. The people’s intelligence, strength, and talent are important resources for the revolutionary cause. To fully realize the central position, foundational role, intellect, strength, and talent of the people, the most fundamental and sustainable measure is to perfect the mechanism for implementing the guideline: “The people know, the people discuss, the people do, the people inspect, the people supervise, the people benefit from the results of their labor”.

2. The Party’s process if establishing the motto “The people know, the people discuss, the people do, the people inspect, the people supervise, the people benefit”

During his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh emphasized: “Revolution is the cause of the masses, not the cause of any individual hero. The success of our Party lies in the fact that our Party has organized and promoted the boundless revolutionary force of the people and has led the people to strive under the victorious flag of Marxism - Leninism”(1). The people are the true subjects of history, the country’s most valuable resources for development. The people’s intelligence, strength, and talent are important resources for the revolutionary cause. He affirmed the unity between the Party’s strength and the people’s strength: “A strong Party means a strong people, a strong people means a strong Party; when the people and the Party are strong, we will definitely win”(2); all successes of the Party and of our country’s revolution originate from the great strength of the people. To promote the boundless resources of the people to serve the revolutionary cause, we must create conditions for the people to grasp the policies of the Party and the State; the people discuss and contribute opinions on the working policies of Party organizations and government agencies; the people directly implement the Party’s guidelines and policies, the State’s policies and laws, and local working policies; the people control the activities of government agencies, cadres, and Party members. According to Ho Chi Minh, this is an essential aspect of democracy, requiring: “The people must know how to enjoy their democratic rights, how to use their democratic rights, and be bold enough to speak and act”(3); “To actively practice democracy with the people, everything must be left for the people to discuss carefully and decide for themselves in a truly democratic manner”(4).

Since its inception and throughout the process of leading the revolution, the Communist Party of Vietnam has always affirmed that the revolution is the people’s cause, and the Party’s leadership is to organize and promote the people’s strength. Accordingly, all the Party’s guidelines and policies must, to the highest extent, arouse, gather, and promote the revolutionary spirit, intelligence, creativity, solidarity, and resources of the people, in order to improve the material and spiritual lives of the people. Under the leadership of the Party, in the context of having a government, the State acts as the entity that exercises state power on behalf of the people, ensuring their rights are upheld to serve their legitimate interests. The State is also subject to public supervision.

During the renovation period and the process of industrialization, and modernization, our Party has affirmed that the people are the center and the subject of the development strategy; the Party leads and the State manages, but the Party and the State cannot replace the people; the people are those who implement the Party’s guidelines and policies, the State’s policies and laws. Accordingly, all of the Party’s and State’s policies must be made public so that all classes of people know and implement them. Drafts of Party Congress political reports, constitutional amendments, and major laws are published for public consultation. Localities and agencies adopt appropriate methods to solicit public opinions in the development of policies and work plans. Government agencies, the Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations organize mobilize the people to actively participate in emulation movements and contribute to the Party’s leadership activities and the Party and the government building and development efforts.

The Party prioritizes grassroots democracy in building and promoting the socialist democracy in Vietnam. Directive No. 53-CT/TW dated November 28, 1984, by the Secretariat on strengthening the Party’s mass work, for the first time, emphasized the slogan “ the people know, the people discuss, the people do, the people inspect” in the task: “ correctly implementing the motto: the people know, the people discuss, the people do, the people inspect, in production, distribution as well as in all work directly related to the masses”(5).

From the 6th National Party Congress to the 13th National Party Congress, the policy of “the people know, the people discuss, the people do, the people inspect” was consistently affirmed. Based on the summarization of 35 years of implementing the renovation policy, the 13th National Party Congress added two elements to the motto “the people know, the people discuss, the people do, the people inspect” to become “the people know, the people discuss, the people do, the people inspect, the people supervise, the people benefit”(6).

The addition of the element “the people’s supervision” reflects the importance of oversight activities by the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations, particularly since the issuance of Decision No. 217-QD/TW on December 12, 2013, by the Politburo regarding regulations on social supervision and criticism. Adding “benefit” fully captures the purpose of democracy and national development-bringing tangible benefits to the people. Those who contribute and work should enjoy the rightful fruits of their labor and efforts.

3. Mechanisms need to be enhanced to effectively implement the motto “The people know, the people discuss, the people do, the people inspect, the people supervise, the people benefit”

The motto “the people know, the people discuss, the people do, the people inspect, the people supervise, the people benefit” encompasses a sequence of interconnected steps, beginning with the people being informed about the Party’s policies, the State’s laws, and the initiatives of local authorities, agencies, organizations, and enterprises, and culminating in the people receiving their legitimate benefits. Each stage has specific content, but the content of the stages must be cohesive and unified. The implementation of the stages must demonstrate the people’s contribution in the spirit of self-awareness, activeness, and creativity, in accordance with the spirit of the people being the root, being the owners and the people’s mastery.

The aspects of the people knowing, the people discussing, the people doing, the people checking, the people supervising, and the people benefiting are all related to many mechanisms, policies, and many different subjects. Therefore, to properly and fully implement the motto “the people know, the people discus, the people do, the people inspect, the people supervise, the people benefit”, it is necessary to correctly implement and improve the various related mechanisms and policies.

Firstly, enhancing the overall mechanism of the political system: “The Party leads, the State manages, the people are masters”

The motto “the people know, the people discuss, the people do, the people inspect, the people supervise, the people benefit” operate under the Party’s leadership, particularly through grassroots Party organizations. Therefore, along with ensuring the Party’s leadership role, it is necessary to renovate the content and methods of Party leadership. The Party should strengthen the leadership of state agencies to institutionalize and concretize the Party’s guidelines and policies on democracy and to promote democracy from the grassroots levels. There needs to be effective coordination between the Party’s inspection and supervision work together with the people’s inspection and supervision. The motto “the people know, the people discuss, the people do, the people inspect, the people supervise, the people benefit” must be organized, managed, and facilitated by the State, so the State needs to continue to amend, supplement, and improve the legal system, mechanisms, and policies. It must build a contingent of cadres and civil servants who are truly clean, “respect the people, are close to the people, trust the people, understand the people, learn from the people, rely on the people and are responsible to the people”. Additionally, movements like “Clever mass mobilization”, etc., should be effectively implemented to ensure the guideline is applied in compliance with the law, yielding high effectiveness without deviation - particularly avoiding its misuse for illicit gains. It is equally important to prevent and counteract sabotage activities by hostile forces and negative elements.

Secondly, improve the legal system

“The people know, the people discuss, the people do, the people check, the people supervise, the people benefit”, especially the last four, are directly related to many provisions within the law. On November 10, 2022, the 15th National Assembly issued the Law on Implementation of Grassroots Democracy. This is a particularly important legal document, clearly stipulating the content and methods of implementing democracy at the grassroots level. It includes the rights and obligations of citizens in implementing democracy at the grassroots level, and the responsibilities of agencies, units, organizations, and individuals in ensuring its implementation. However, for this law to be effective in practice, further clarification is needed for specific types of grassroots structures, such as: communes, wards, towns, and residential communities at the commune level; state agencies, public service units; units of the armed forces; organizations where workers are employed. Along with this law, it is also necessary to amend and supplement the contents related to the implementation of the motto “the people know, the people discuss, the people do, the people inspect, the people supervise, the people benefit” in other laws and legal documents, in the State’s management mechanisms and policies.

Thirdly, refining the regulations on the political system’s mass mobilization work.

On July 30, 2021, the Politburo issued Decision No. 23-QD/TW on promulgating the Regulations on mass mobilization work in the political system. The current task is to further concretize this regulation in areas concerning responsibilities, mechanisms, and methods for public mobilization by organizations within the political system to implement the guideline “the people know, the people discuss, the people do, the people inspect, the people supervise, the people benefit” effectively. This requires fully promoting the people’s mastery, ensuring their material and spiritual well-being, and strictly implementing grassroots democracy. It involves strictly and effectively implement regulations on the implementation of democracy at the grassroots level, receiving the people, dialogue with the people, resolving legitimate and justifiable petitions from the people, and promptly and thoroughly handling pressing issues related to the people’s daily lives.

Fourthly, enhancing democratic institutions and the relationship between direct democracy and representative democracy.

The motto “the people know, the people discuss, the people do, the people inspect, the people supervise, the people benefit” is a step forward in the understanding and mechanism of implementing direct democracy. To implement this motto, it is necessary to ensure publicity, transparency, and accountability in all activities of management agencies; heads of Party committees and authorities at all levels increase contact, dialogue, listening, receiving, and handling people’s concerns and legitimate aspirations; have appropriate forms to mobilize the people to participate in socio-economic development and social management through socio-political organizations, socio-professional organizations, and community self-management activities; promptly resolve people’s complaints and denunciations; cadres and party members must set a good example in practicing democracy; and so on.

4. Key solutions to improve the implementation mechanism of the motto “the people know, the people discuss, the people do, the people inspect, the people supervise, the people benefit”

It is essential to enhance the awareness and responsibility of Party committees, Party organizations, entities within the political system, cadres, Party members, and the people at all levels regarding the importance of perfecting the mechanism to effectively implement the motto.

The motto “the people know, the people discuss, the people do, the people inspect” has been in place for many years, now has been expanded to include “the people supervise, the people benefit”. Accordingly, Party committees, Party organizations, cadres, Party members, and people from all walks of life need to fully understand the content of the motto, thereby renovating all activities to implement it correctly and effectively. Party committees, organizations, and government agencies, especially at the grassroots level, must recognize their responsibilities in implementing this guideline by reforming leadership styles, working methods, and approaches to create favorable conditions for the people to know, discuss, act, supervise, and monitor matters related to local programs, plans, and activities. Leaders must stay close to the grassroots and the people, listen sincerely, trust in the people, consult them, and prioritize their welfare, ensuring that the Party’s and State’s policies and local regulations are seen as appropriate and voluntarily followed. On this foundation, each cadre and party member must uphold their sense of responsibility to the people, create conditions for the people to exercise their mastery, contribute ideas to building a clean and strong Party and political system. Cadres must perform their assigned tasks well; They mist mobilize the people to uphold their traditions, patriotism, and their rights as citizens to contribute to the motto’s successful implementation. This will contribute to the successful implementation of the goals and tasks of socio-economic development, maintain political stability, and strengthen national defense and security in the locality and the country.

The people should be guided to improve their understanding, actively develop their capacity to exercise their rights in economic and social matters, and know how to protect their legitimate rights and interests. Simultaneously, measures must be taken to resolutely oppose organizations or individuals who misuse democracy to disrupt internal unity, create political and social instability, or violate the people’s democratic rights, harming the implementation of the motto the people know, the people discuss, the people do, the people inspect, the people supervise, the people benefit”.

Secondly, expand democracy and improve the quality and exemplary responsibility of cadres and party members.

The motto “the people know, the people discuss, the people do, the people inspect, the people supervise, the people benefit” itself is both a concept and a method of implementing direct democracy by the people. On the other hand, this motto is part of the overall socialist democratic institution that is being built and implemented in our country today. Continuing to concretize and improve the institutions for democratic practice in line with the Platform for national building in the transitional period to socialism (supplemented and developed in 2011) and the 2013 Constitution, ensuring that all state power belongs to the people. This includes promoting political and social activism, intelligence, rights and responsibilities of the people in the entire process of building and defending the Fatherland from the grassroots. Strongly fostering the spirit of patriotism, pride, self-reliance, compassion, solidarity, social consensus and the aspiration for national development among the people is crucial. Mechanisms and policies should be established to maximize socialist democracy, positioning the people as the center, the subject, and the primary resource and goal of national and local development. Mechanisms must also be enhanced to allow the people to nominate outstanding individuals to Party organizations and government agencies, monitor and provide feedback on cadres and Party members, and contribute to refining and purifying the ranks of cadres and Party members.

The motto “the people know, the people discuss, the people do, the people inspect, the people supervise, the people benefit” can only be effectively implemented when the cadres and party members possess sufficient qualities and capabilities, and fulfill their roles, responsibilities, and duties while setting an exemplary standard for the people. Along with building contingents of competent, ethical, and reputable cadres, it is vital to strictly implement the Politburo’s regulations on the responsibility of officials and Party members to lead by example. Localities, agencies, and organizations should establish regulations specific to each type of cadre, outlining their responsibilities in providing information for public awareness, engaging with the people, implementing tasks alongside the people, accepting public oversight, and ensuring that the people benefit appropriately from their labor and contributions.

Third, Transparency and public disclosure of programs and work plans

All programs and work plans of localities, agencies and units are ultimately for the benefit of the people and are implemented by the people to varying degrees. Therefore, they must be made public and transparent so the people can know, contribute ideas for improvement, participate in implementation, monitor, supervise, and detect violations (if any). For example, at the commune level, government agencies need to publicize the socio-economic development plan, the annual economic restructuring plan; state budget estimates, financial operation plans; planning, projects, investment works in the area and their progress, including plans for land recovery, compensation, support, and resettlement when land is recovered to implement projects and works (if any); regulations on implementing democracy in communes, wards and towns; tasks and powers of cadres, civil servants and non-professional workers at the commune level, in villages and residential groups; The management and use of funds, investments, sponsorships under programs, projects, and contributions from the people; the situation of investment in construction, procurement, assignment, lease, and use of public assets; results of inspections, examinations, and settlement of corruptive, negative acts, and disciplinary violations against officials, civil servants, and non-professional workers; plans for collecting opinions and addressing public opinion; administrative procedures, work handling procedures, and other matters as prescribed by law.

Fourthly, strengthen the leadership, direction and coordination of Party committees, Party organizations, authorities, the Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations in improving the related mechanisms to implement the motto.

Perfecting the mechanisms to implement the motto “the people know, the people discuss, the people do, the people inspect, the people supervise, the people benefit” is a big task, related to many organizations, many fields, at all levels. Mechanisms related to the comprehensive framework of “the Party leads, the State manages, the people are the masters”, on laws, macro policies, democratic institutions, mass mobilization work, etc., are issued by the leading agencies of the Party and the State at the central level. Based on these comprehensive mechanisms, Party committees and organizations need to renovate the work of leadership, provide direction, guidance, while pushing for inspection, supervision, and attaching responsibility to state agencies, heads of agencies and units in perfecting the mechanisms to implement the motto “the people know, the people discuss, the people do, the people inspect, the people supervise, the people benefit” in their localities, agencies and units.

There should also be enhanced coordination between government agencies, the armed forces, public service units, enterprises with the Fatherland Front, socio-political organizations, and other social organizations in participating in improving the mechanisms for implementing mass mobilization work. The Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations need to develop programs and effectively implement the motto “the people know, the people discuss, the people do, the people inspect, the people supervise, the people benefit”; successfully execute collaborative action programs among organizations and sectors, with specific actions to create consensus and practical effectiveness; work together to address legitimate public grievances promptly and effectively, ensuring public trust in the Party’s leadership and the State’s governance, encouraging active public participation in community supervision, and ensuring citizens’ rights and responsibilities are upheld in accordance with the law.

Fifthly, strengthening and innovating the effectiveness of inspection and supervision of the motto’s omplementation

Party committees and authorities at all levels must prioritize leadership and direction in the inspection and supervision of the implementation of the motto. This includes integrating the inspection and supervision of the guideline with the review of the situation and outcomes of implementing Party resolutions, State policies, and ongoing programs, projects, and plans at the grassroots level. Through inspection and supervision, any shortcomings in the mechanisms for implementing the motto should be promptly identified for improvement or recommended for resolution by higher authorities.

It is essential to implement regulations that will ensure that leaders at all levels engage in direct dialogue with the public, listen to and address challenges and obstacles encountered at the grassroots level during the implementation of tasks. Heads of Party committees, local government agencies, agencies, branches, and units should strengthen the inspection if the implementation of duties, tasks, regulations on receiving citizens, regulations on civil service, and the implementation of discipline and administrative discipline of cadres, party members, civil servants, and public employees. Any violations of the motto “the people know, the people discuss, the people do, the people inspect, the people supervise, the people benefit” must be promptly corrected and handled .

5. Conclusion

The motto “the people know, the people discuss, the people do, the people inspect, the people supervise, the people benefit” is a specific and practical method to implement democracy and the people’s direct mastery. To effectively implement this motto, it is necessary to improve the many related mechanisms, ranging from the overarching mechanism of the political system “the Party leads, the State manages, and the people are the masters”, to the general democratic institutions, laws, mass mobilization work of the political system, etc. In this broad effort, it is necessary to synchronously implement solutions, from raising awareness and responsibility of subjects related to the implementation of the motto, to expanding democracy, improving the overall quality and exemplary responsibility of cadres and party members; ensuring transparency in programs and work plans, strengthening leadership, direction, and coordination between Party committees, Party organizations, authorities, the Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations; and intensifying, strongly innovating, and improving the effectiveness and efficiency of inspection and supervision work, including the supervision of the motto’s implementation.

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Received: August 22, 2024; Revised: August 28, 2024; Approved for publication: September 05, 2024.

Endnotes:

(1) Ho Chi Minh: Complete Works, vol.12, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2011, p.672.

(2) Ho Chi Minh: Complete Works, vol.11, ibid., p.117.

(3), (4) Ho Chi Minh: Complete Works, vol.15, ibid., pp.293, 595.

(5) CPV: Complete Party Documents, vol.45, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2006, p.429.

(6) CPV: Documents of the 13th National Party Congress, vol.I, National Political Publishing House, 2021, p.173; vol.II, p.249.