Dialogue to prevent bureaucracy, commandism, and distance from the people

Exactly 50 years, our beloved Uncle Ho passed away, along with his Will left for the country, on July 21, 1969, he wrote and sent his last letter to the Party Executive Committee of Nghe An province with 19 times the word "people", this is considered his Will dedicated to his homeland before passing away. Of the 4 great things Uncle Ho instructed, 2 were for the people, which were (1) Actively implement democracy with the people more; (2) Take great care of the people's lives, and this is also the great task of those who work for the Front in Uncle's homeland.

The principle of consultation and democracy has been widely promoted by the Party Committee and people of Nghe An.

Taking to heart his teachings, the principle of consultation to implement democracy is considered the “universal key”, and has been widely promoted by the Party Committee and people of Nghe An. The Front at all levels and its member organizations have actively coordinated to deploy, guide, and implement democratic regulations associated with monitoring activities, social criticism, and suggestions for Party building and government building. Many widespread patriotic emulation movements and practical campaigns have attracted a large number of people from all walks of life, aiming at successfully implementing political tasks and taking care of improving people's lives.

Leaders of the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee discussed with district Fatherland Front officials about front work. Photo: MH

The Front has actively mobilized people to participate in building and implementing the Grassroots Democracy Charter, promoting direct ownership in local work; In particular, from 2017 to present, the Nghe An Provincial Fatherland Front Committee has directly guided the grassroots Fatherland Front to coordinate the organization of nearly 1,900 dialogue conferences between the Chairman of the People's Council and the Chairman of the People's Committee at the commune level with the people, twice a year (with over 200,000 people participating, with nearly 26,000 dialogue opinions from the people).

There are many methods to approach and solve people's problems through indirect forms (such as: Party guidelines and policies, State policies and laws and management work, ensuring social justice, propaganda work...) or through direct forms (such as: Contacting voters; meeting people by heads of Party committees and authorities; procedures for handling petitions, complaints and denunciations; Party committees at all levels attending village and hamlet Party cell meetings; activities of mass organizations...). However, in reality, life is always very vivid and rich but also always contains complexities and conflicts related to individuals or a group of people, an organization that need to be resolved. Therefore, it is necessary to follow the consistent principle of "whatever is beneficial to our people must be done to the utmost, whatever is harmful to our people must be avoided to the utmost", ensuring the legitimate and legal aspirations of the people.

Dialogue is one of the methods to approach and solve people's problems. Photo MH

It can be affirmed that dialogue is a very effective form; a high step in implementing democracy at the grassroots level.

In addition to the above forms, it can be affirmed that dialogue is a very effective form; a high step in implementing democracy at the grassroots level, thereby helping Party committees and authorities directly grasp the thoughts, aspirations and opinions of the people, promptly resolve difficulties and complex problems arising among the people right from the beginning, thereby reducing complaints and denunciations arising from citizens right at the grassroots level.

In Nghe An, this result is clearly shown through 2 contents: (1) Regarding complaints and denunciations: If in the period 2014 - 2017, the number of people receiving increased by 18.4% - 20.5%, then in 2018 it decreased to 4.8% and the number of receiving complaints decreased from 5.3% to 2.7%; (2) Regarding the Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI): In 2016, it ranked 36/63, then in 2018, it ranked 4/63 provinces and cities; in which, many contents directly related to people were significantly improved, namely: People's participation at the grassroots level; publicity, transparency; accountability to people; control of corruption in the public sector; public administrative procedures; provision of public services.

Despite achieving important results, complaints and denunciations still occur in some establishments, in which false complaints and denunciations still account for a high rate, especially in the fields of land management, site clearance, and social policies; Nghe An province's PAPI index is still unstable (ranked 27th in 2014; 22nd in 2015; 36th in 2016; 36th in 2017; 4th in 2018).

Forum Listening to the Voice of the Front Working Committee of Quynh Luu District.

There are many objective and subjective reasons, but mainly due to the incomplete and unstable awareness of democracy; the violation of people's democratic rights as well as the exploitation of democracy to violate discipline and the law still occurs; the implementation of the law on democracy at the grassroots level has not been closely connected and coordinated between agencies, units, between levels, sectors, and bases with regular tasks, especially in the work of Party building, administrative reform, prevention and combat of corruption and waste... And the underlying cause is: The contact and dialogue between the heads of Party committees and authorities with the people in some localities and units is still formal; not regular, not widespread at all levels and sectors; the content of the dialogue lacks focus and key points; there is still a uniformity between dialogue and contact with voters and citizen reception; some contents are not really thoroughly resolved; The supervisory role of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations, especially in implementing conclusions after dialogue, has not been regular and clear.

To better implement the grassroots democracy regulations, limit mass complaints and denunciations, and bypass authorities, it is necessary to strengthen dialogue, because this is the forum for people to participate in mastery; so that dialogue activities have real, long-term results, and are not transformed into a "promise by officials" movement, in addition to focusing on promoting extensive propaganda and education among all classes of people and cadres, constantly raising awareness of democracy and practicing democracy at the grassroots level, it is necessary to pay attention to the following contents:

Firstly, it is necessary to determine the implementation of grassroots democracy regulations, closely linked to the goals of socio-economic development and patriotic emulation movements, as an important basis for organizing contacts and dialogues with the people; improving people's knowledge, gradually expanding and perfecting grassroots democracy in rural areas. Improving the quality of representative democracy, expanding direct democracy; paying attention to encouraging and replicating advanced examples and good models of building and implementing grassroots democracy, promoting the spirit of serving the people, and respecting the people's right to mastery.

Through the propaganda and mobilization of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and its members, the movement to help each other develop the economy and reduce poverty at the grassroots level has been very practical and effective. Photo: Mai Hoa

Second, it is necessary to study and amend the Regulations on contact and dialogue with the people to ensure consistency within the political system and to be close to local realities. Accordingly, it is necessary to clearly define and supplement the contents and methods of organizing contact and dialogue; clearly define the responsibilities of the host and individuals and groups participating in contact and dialogue, especially promoting the personal responsibility of the heads of Party committees and authorities, and the opening skills of those who host dialogues (that is, to make people want to speak, want to contribute ideas, want to exchange, etc.). The effectiveness of contact and dialogue activities must be used as a criterion to evaluate the capacity and work results of individuals and organizations for annual emulation classification. This is the basis and foundation to help improve the quality of contact and dialogue work in the coming time.

Third, it is necessary to demonstrate the leading role of the Front, regularly innovate the way to grasp the thoughts and aspirations of the people according to each target group; proactively grasp the situation and synthesize the opinions and recommendations of union members, association members and the people, especially on urgent and complicated issues to help the heads of Party committees and authorities organize dialogues with the people well. Further strengthen the role of supervising the settlement of people's recommendations after dialogues; promote the role of supervision in the community, and promote reconciliation work.

Fourth, constantly innovate the content and methods, improve the quality and effectiveness of the activities of the Vietnam Fatherland Front at all levels in the direction of being close to the people, oriented towards the grassroots, truly practical, effective, flexible and closely following real life, with the motto "each residential group and block is a working office" of specialized Front officials at all levels.

Delegation of the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee visited and encouraged Mr. Nguyen Van Bien - a seriously wounded soldier with extremely difficult circumstances in Anh Son town. Photo: Duc Anh

Implementing democracy at the grassroots level and strengthening dialogue with the people is not only the responsibility of the leaders of Party committees and authorities to be close to the people, respect the people, and "listen to the people's feelings and breath" but also an effective way to prevent and combat bureaucracy, commandism, and distance from the people. Therefore, along with other solutions, we respectfully request the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front to strengthen supervision of the implementation of the Politburo's regulations; at the same time, we recommend that the Party and State issue a mechanism for implementing synchronous dialogue nationwide to contribute to better implementing democracy at the grassroots level, especially before the upcoming Party Congresses at all levels and elections of National Assembly deputies and People's Council deputies at all levels.