Scholars, intellectuals, and lawyers contribute ideas to amending the Constitution

Many delegates expressed their opinions on issues of democracy, human rights, the role and position of the Party and the State.

On the morning of March 20, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front held a conference to collect opinions from intellectuals, lawyers, representatives of ethnic minorities, and religious dignitaries on the Draft Amendment to the 1992 Constitution.

Delegates said that the Draft Constitution continues to affirm and clarify the basic contents of the nature of our regime as stipulated in the 1992 Constitution on promoting socialist democracy and the people's right to mastery; at the same time, there are many important new points, meeting the development requirements and current practical situation of the country, especially the issue of human rights is emphasized and promoted.

Conference delegates take souvenir photo

The issue of democratic institutions in the Draft Constitution was one of the contents that many delegates gave their opinions during the comment session. The delegates suggested that it is necessary to inherit President Ho Chi Minh's democratic ideology in the 1946 Constitution: Democracy is the core of all issues and the people are in the highest position in society. Whatever is beneficial to the people must be done to the utmost, whatever is harmful to the people must be avoided to the utmost. Everyone, including party members and civil servants, are servants of the people. Democratic institutions are closely linked to building a State of the people, by the people, for the people.

Professor Luu Van Dat, Chairman of the Legal Advisory Council of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, said that this draft Constitution has inherited the constitutional spirit of President Ho Chi Minh and also correctly identified the content of the Constitution according to the 1946 Constitution. However, Professor Dat also expressed concerns about the unclear content in this issue because of the confusing interpretation, causing misunderstandings for readers. "I suggest that when issues are legalized, they should be clear and specific to avoid misunderstandings for everyone," said Professor Dat.

The issue of human rights was also commented by many delegates. Delegates said that the draft clarified the content of human rights, civil rights, and the responsibility of the State and society in recognizing, respecting, protecting and ensuring human rights and civil rights.

Article 45 of the draft stipulates: “Citizens have the right to determine their ethnicity, use their mother tongue, and freely choose their language of communication”. Mr. Lu Van Que, member of the Presidium of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, proposed that the 1992 Constitution Amendment Committee consider supplementing and amending this article to “The State manages the determination of ethnic composition and names according to ethnic criteria, citizens have the right to choose their ethnic composition”.

Also at the Conference, some delegates said that it is necessary to add to the Constitution a provision on the “people’s right to referendum” regarding the Constitution and important matters of the country. At the same time, it is necessary to establish the principle that important issues must be submitted to the people for a referendum as a basis for developing a law that specifically stipulates the method, order, and procedures for implementing the people’s right to referendum.

Delegates also suggested clarifying the role and position of the Party, the State and the people; including the role of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations, mass organizations, in particular, it is necessary to affirm that the Vietnam Fatherland Front is a part of the political system and the State ensures the activities of the Vietnam Fatherland Front./.

According to (vov.vn) - LT