(VOVworld) – The draft Law on Referendums was an important agenda item of the 38th session of the National Assembly Standing Committee which concluded on Thursday. Referendums acknowledge the public’s role and voice on political, economic, and social issues. Building and enforcing the Law on Referendums confirms with the Constitution and is in the spirit of President Ho Chi Minh’s saying, “People are the root”.
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Referendums are a way for people to express their thoughts and power on important national issues. The draft law on Referendums will be debated at the 9th session of the 13th National Assembly.
Referendums have been organized
The first Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1946 acknowledged the role and responsibility of people in constitutional referendums on national issues. The current Constitution says people have the right to vote when the State organizes a referendum. The Law on Referendums aims to realize the principles formulated in the Constitution.
In recent years, people have gotten deeply involved in social issues in different ways such as by using channels of direct criticism of policies and by contributing opinions on legal documents and political, economic, and social issues.
People’s diverse opinions have been acknowledged and reflected in state management activities, legislation, and specific policies and activities of ministries, sectors, and localities.
People’s opinions have led to the cancellation of legal documents and policies that don’t match the public’s aspirations. Almost every policy and mechanism that has a direct impact on people’s lives has been the subject of a public referendum.
Reflecting the people’s will
During the national struggles for independence, public referendums were held whenever a common voice, consensus, and united strength was needed to decide an important issue. Now referendums are considered a right of the people. 167 of 214 nations have laws or regulations authorizing referendums.
Referendums are a way for people to directly express their thoughts and power and engage in national issues. National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said when a referendum is held, people’s opinions are decisive. The principle is that a referendum is for the people, not the National Assembly, to decide an issue. Referendums can make central and local government more transparent, build public trust, create social consensus, and resolve differences.
Referendums are a form of democracy that respects the public’s mastery on political and social issues. They embody the spirit of President Ho Chi Minh’s maxim: “People are the root”.