All Vietnamese National Assemblies have left their mark, fulfilling the responsibility entrusted in them by the people and overseeing and resolving important national issues. Seventy years ago, after the successful birth of the Revolution in 1945, people in the lowland and highland areas of Quang Nam, including Danang, prepared for the first General Election. The first local National Assembly members were famous intellectuals, such as Le Van Hien, Tran Vien, Huynh Ngoc Hue and Tran Xuan Nhi. Since that time, our local Assembly has contributed greatly to the development of the region, including the city of Danang.
National Assembly delegates of Danang and Quang Nam over the years
A researcher and a former Vietnamese Fatherland Front Chairman for Danang, Nguyen Dinh An, explains that, in planning the election, the local inhabitants created many new works of folk art, such as poems, sea-shanties, and ve style songs, for propaganda purposes. This was a mobilizing force because the songs were catchy, easy to remember and spread quickly, informing voters about the most qualified Party and Vietminh candidates who were recommended as their representatives.
“It was unimaginable then that, after fifty or even seventy years, people would still remember the election songs,” says Nguyen Dinh An. “They mention names that are still very dear to us. They were the best choice at the time, although later electors would be asked which candidate to ‘tick off’, in which row. That did not happen at the beginning.”
With the poems, songs, talks and discussions about the virtues and talents of each of the Vietminh candidates, the atmosphere before General Election day in Quang Nam-Danang was really lively. Ultimately, all fourteen Vietminh candidates were elected.
The Assembly delegates that won the voters’ trust that day went on to dedicate their abilities to the good of the people and Fatherland, and became senior Party, Assembly and Government members. Following in their footsteps, National Assembly delegates from the Quang Nam region have all left their personal impressions, because the people of Quang Nam-Danang speak out and are used to discussing complex local issues.
Distinguished Teacher. Le Cong Co, Quang Nam-Danang province representative of the Eighth National Assembly was elected as an independent candidate immediately after the Doi Moi reforms. He recounts, “I believed that, as a member of the Assembly, I could speak on behalf of the intellectual class of Quang Nam-Danang, so I nominated myself. Representatives made statements, voiced interesting opinions, and helped in the development of democracy in the Assembly, steering it into the future.”
Distinguished Teacher. Le Cong Co, independent representative in the Eighth National Assembly
Mrs. Nguyen Thi Van Lan, Danang representative in the Eleventh National Assembly, explains that, to become a representative, one needs a good heart and personality. Furthermore, she says, one needs to rely on the law, take it as one’s benchmark, and gather good people with deep legal expertise to defend the interests of the people.
“To debate effectively, one needs clear opinions to really contribute to decisions on important national issues, as well broadening the law and oversight. I believe that the National Assembly must be intimately involved with and firmly understand the pressing issues of voters' lives”, she confided.
(Media Center)
