Cannot infringe on citizens' rights and obligations in elections

Internal and external collusion increases sabotage

As the election day approaches, hostile and reactionary forces, opportunists, and politically dissatisfied elements are increasingly posting articles, videos, images, and even live-streaming on social networks and some Vietnamese-language newspapers with addresses abroad to incite and call on citizens not to participate in the election of National Assembly deputies and People's Council deputies at all levels.

Through many arguments and tricks, on the one hand they focus on praising, embellishing, and glorifying the free election mechanism in the capitalist style. On the other hand, they deny the good nature of our regime, distort socialist democracy,incite, entice people to sabotage, hindering the preparation for the election of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 term. Malicious rumors, distorted and falsified arguments have increased in both frequency and volume to sow doubts about the democracy of the election of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels; causing information disruption, making people misunderstand the provisions of the Constitution and laws of Vietnam on the rights and obligations of citizens in candidacy and election.

Distorted information about the election of deputies to the National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels on social networks.

Subversive activities of hostile forcesare increasingly organized, in batches like campaigns. Some overseas newspapers have organized special topics to regularly report on the election of National Assembly deputies and People's Council deputies at all levels. In addition to thousands of reactionary websites and Vietnamese-language newspapers overseas, there are also thousands of websites, groups, and fanpages in the country that post, disseminate, and share inaccurate information, following the tone of hostile and reactionary forces, causing distraction in society, disrupting security and order, and negatively affecting the election preparation work.

Not only “following the crowd”, within our own party, there have appeared a number of opportunistic, politically dissatisfied figures who have gone on social media to write and disseminate distorted content about democracy in the election of National Assembly and People’s Council deputies at all levels; advocated anarcho-liberalism, incited people to “boycott” the election in the style of “don’t know, don’t vote”…

Affirming the rights and obligations of citizens

No matter how insidious or sophisticated, the tricks of hostile, reactionary, and opportunistic political forces cannot conceal the nature of acts that seriously violate the rights and obligations of citizens in the election of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 term. Depending on the nature and severity of such acts, they will be handled in accordance with the law.

The right to vote isbasic political rights of citizensprescribed by the Constitution and the law to ensure that all citizens have the conditions to choose their representatives to state power agencies. Citizens' rights are inseparable from citizens' obligations. Through elections, citizens directly vote to elect representatives of their will, aspirations and mastery, to exercise state power on their behalf, and to contribute to establishing a state apparatus to carry out social management activities. Therefore, participating in elections is also a citizen's responsibility to the country.

Propaganda poster by author Do Nhu Diem.

The rights and obligations of citizens in elections and candidacy are inviolable. Any act of organizing forces, closely colluding internally and externally, propagating to distort democracy, denying the rights and obligations of citizens, taking advantage of democracy to sabotage elections; inciting and calling on people to boycott elections; promoting anarcho-liberalism... as mentioned above is a violation of the law on elections and infringes on citizens' right to vote.

Ensuring democracy is the essence of our regime, both the goal and the driving force of the renovation process to build and develop the country. Along with the policy of promoting democracy, heightening civic responsibility, discipline and social order, our Party and State clearly affirm their viewpoint and attitude of resolutely criticizing and severely punishing acts that violate the people's right to mastery.

Article 95 of the Law on Election of National Assembly Deputies and People's Council Deputies also clearly stipulates: "Anyone who uses deception, bribery or coercion to obstruct citizens' voting or candidacy; violates regulations on election campaigns; a person responsible for election work who forges documents, commits ballot fraud or uses other tricks to distort election results or violates other provisions of the law on elections shall, depending on the nature and severity of the violation, be subject to disciplinary action, administrative sanctions or criminal prosecution."

Extensive propaganda combined with tight organization

To ensure that the election of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and the election of People's Council deputies at all levels for the 2021-2026 term is democratic, lawful, safe, economical, and results in the election of qualified deputies who represent the will and aspirations of the people and are successful, all levels, sectors, and localities have synchronously implemented many measures.

Democracy in elections or the mechanism of practicing democracy in elections is essentially publicity and transparency. In the upcoming election of National Assembly and People's Council deputies, publicity and transparency are clearly demonstrated in the order of work to prepare for the election.

The preparation of election personnel is given special attention. The stages and steps of consultation, candidate introduction and meetings between voters and candidates nominated for the National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels are closely organized, ensuring democracy, equality, compliance with the provisions of law and guidance of competent agencies, creating favorable conditions for candidates nominated for election and self-nominated candidates to present their action programs to voters.

Banners and slogans promoting the election of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels. Photo: Mai Hoa

To combat distorted arguments about the election and insults to citizens' rights and obligations in the election, it is necessary to first step up propaganda work to make people understand clearly the position and role of the National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels as well as the meaning and importance of this election.

Voters nationwideneed to be thoroughly understood and disseminatedThe provisions of the law on the rights, obligations and responsibilities of citizens in the election and participation in building a clean and strong state apparatus and political system. People clearly understand and perceive correctly, which is the basis for each voter to actively and voluntarily exercise their rights, obligations and responsibilities as citizens in participating in the election. Along with propaganda work, agencies, units and localities need to launch patriotic emulation movements, emulate to practically win to achieve achievements to welcome the election.

Forces and authorities develop comprehensive plans to implement all aspects of work, with specific protection plans to ensure a truly safe environment for people and voters nationwide to participate in elections in a democratic, public, fair, and legal manner.

Faced with the diverse flow of information on cyberspace today, each citizen needs to improve their “resistance” and be alert when accessing information. Especially when faced with conflicting information, it is necessary to be cautious, double-check the accuracy, and avoid hasty, impulsive actions that cause disorder and insecurity, negatively affecting the election.

When discovering "toxic" information, defaming leaders; distorting guidelines, policies, and laws, it is necessary to immediately report to the authorities to take preventive measures. Through professional measures, the authorities regularly review, detect, and strictly handle cases of false information, distortion, and incitement to people to cause disorder and insecurity affecting the election of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 term.