Historical decision for the era of national rise

Streamlining the apparatus is a regular and regular task to meet the development needs of the country in each specific historical period. On the basis of thoroughly grasping and implementing the Party's Resolutions, the Conclusions of the Politburo and the Secretariat on continuing to arrange and streamline the organization and apparatus of the political system, Dai Doan Ket Newspaper has gone to the grassroots to meet with insiders and discuss with experts on this important content.

ct1(2).png — General Secretary To Lam presented the Politburo's Decision to representatives of 13 Party agencies, Party public service units, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations at the central level, on December 30, 2024. Photo: VNA.

From the policy to the practice of arranging and merging socio-political organizations and mass organizations assigned by the Party and the State to be directly under the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, there is a consensus and unity. The common roof of the Front is increasingly warm and open. The great national solidarity bloc is becoming closer and more solid, thereby contributing to consolidating a solid foundation for the Vietnam Fatherland Front to enter a new era.

An individual participating in many organizations

Over the years, the work of coordinating and unifying actions between the Fatherland Front and its member organizations has shown that action programs, campaigns, and emulation movements have been implemented in a diverse and effective manner, contributing to maintaining and consolidating the great national unity bloc. However, during the survey at the grassroots level, it was found that it is quite common for a person to participate in many political and social organizations at the same time, and this inadvertently creates overlaps and duplication in the implementation of a number of political tasks.

Ms. Tran Thi Huyen in Hamlet 4 (Bai Duong Village, Nam Duong Commune, Nam Truc District, Nam Dinh Province) said that in her family, all three generations participate in grassroots organizations, depending on gender, age, and job, they will participate in different organizations. For example, she herself is a member of the Women's Union and the Farmers' Association, her husband is also a member of the Farmers' Association. Most other people in the hamlet and village are similar. Some people are members of the Veterans' Association, the Farmers' Association, and the Elderly Association, and there are young people who participate in organizations at their place of residence and the Trade Union at their workplace.

According to Ms. Huyen, having associations and participating in association activities is a very good thing, helping people have a place and a forum to meet, exchange, access information, policies of the Party and the State, and express their opinions. In addition, this is also a place for people to share and help each other in work and life. The problem is that, according to Ms. Huyen, the activities of the organizations often have similar and overlapping content. Going to the Women's Union meetings also discusses production development, environmental sanitation, going to the Farmers' Union meetings also discusses similar matters.

“I am a member of the Women's Union but also a member of the Farmers' Association. I understand very clearly my duty and responsibility to work hard, take care of the family's economic development, and raise my children and grandchildren with my husband. In addition, I have the duty and responsibility to contribute my efforts to help my neighbors build and develop my village so that it becomes more prosperous, peaceful, civilized, and clean,” Ms. Huyen further analyzed.

Mr. Nguyen Trong Ban in Hop Tien block (Tran Phu ward, Ha Tinh city, Ha Tinh province) also said that he is both a member of the Veterans Association and a member of the Elderly Association. During his time as a member of two member organizations of the Front, he realized that the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws were implemented and propagated effectively, with a focus, and in accordance with the characteristics of each organization. However, there are some overlapping contents, for example, some emulation movements have different names but the same nature, such as maintaining environmental hygiene.

Ms. Le Thi Nhiem, Cu Than village (Do Dong commune, Thanh Oai district, Hanoi) said that she is a member of the Farmers' Association, Women's Union, and Veterans' Association - all member organizations of the Vietnam Fatherland Front. "There are jobs that we are all given the same content for, which leads to a situation where one person has to attend many meetings. I myself contribute to the gratitude fund at the Women's Union, but I am also a member of the Farmers' Association and Veterans' Association and they are all included in the reported data. That leads to a situation where it is done in a formality and does not bring long-term effectiveness," Ms. Nhiem shared.

Therefore, when they learned about the policy of rearranging and streamlining the organization of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, socio-political organizations, and mass organizations assigned by the Party and the State, Ms. Huyen, Mr. Ban, and Ms. Nhiem all expressed their agreement and support. According to Ms. Nhiem, when rearranging, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front will be the focal point for coordinating the activities of socio-political organizations and mass organizations. This will not only reduce the focal points and formalities in the activities of each organization but also contribute to saving a significant budget source. "This is a major policy of the Party and I have complete faith in this political determination. When aiming for the goal of a rich people and a strong country, the merger will certainly bring benefits to the people, especially members like me," Ms. Nhiem affirmed.

brother t4 — Delegates representing socio-political organizations, social organizations and typical individuals from different classes, social strata, ethnic groups, religions and overseas Vietnamese attending the 10th Congress of the Vietnam Fatherland Front for the 2024-2029 term are typical images of the great national unity bloc. Photo: Quang Vinh.

Reorganize, people benefit

During the survey in nearly 30 provinces and cities, we found that membership in socio-political organizations is a voluntary act of each individual. There are many people who participate in 2 or more organizations at the same time, some are even members of 4 organizations. An individual participating in many socio-political organizations at the same time will help access the policies and guidelines of the Party and the State faster and more diversely. Participating in many socio-political organizations not only helps expand social relationships but also allows each individual to contribute opinions and participate in solving community problems. In particular, each member is also protected by these organizations for their legitimate rights when facing difficulties.

However, besides the advantages, participating in many political and social organizations also has disadvantages when it requires individuals to spend time and effort on many different areas of activity. This can lead to reduced efficiency in personal work, and even affect the work results of each organization. This is not because the establishments do not realize it, but there are places that do not have the conditions and mechanisms to implement it.

In 2019, Mr. Tran Nhat Tan - Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ha Tinh province, at that time holding the position of Secretary of Thach Ha District Party Committee, together with the Standing Committee of Thach Ha District Party Committee implemented Resolution 18 dated October 25, 2017 of the Central Executive Committee of the Party and the guiding documents of the province, assigned the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Thach Ha district to develop a Project to establish the People's Bloc Agency of Thach Ha district including: Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, Labor Federation, Veterans Association, Farmers' Association, Women's Union, Youth Union.

Mr. Tran Danh Vinh - Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Thach Ha district said that the Project to Establish the People's Bloc Agency of Thach Ha district had problems with the operating mechanism and could not be operated, so in 2023, the district Fatherland Front proposed to terminate the implementation of the Project.

From the practice of Thach Ha district, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the district Tran Danh Vinh said that the arrangement and consolidation of socio-political organizations and mass organizations assigned by the Party and the State to be directly under the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front will create uniformity. Because the Fatherland Front is a place that gathers all social classes, is the "common home" of member organizations. According to Mr. Tran Danh Vinh, the Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations coordinating activities as they are now will overlap because if everyone participates in the same work, everyone can report, then the people and the work will not be clear. For example, propaganda and mobilization is the responsibility of the entire political system, in which the Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations play a core role but rely on each other, making it difficult to identify the subject and assign specific responsibilities.

Talking to reporters of Dai Doan Ket Newspaper, Mr. Nguyen Tien Dinh - former Deputy Minister of Home Affairs said that implementing this policy will create unity and strength for the entire team in implementing the program of coordinated action of the Vietnam Fatherland Front. This also strengthens the connection, mutual support and coordination between organizations and people will benefit greatly. Streamlining the apparatus will reduce administrative costs, then the State will have a budget to serve social security work such as reducing tuition fees, investing in science and technology development, and social security.

This also reduces overlap and creates a common unity in the organization of each organization's activities. "For example, when the Front launched a campaign to support people affected by natural disasters and floods, each organization responded to the implementation. For a civil servant, in addition to contributing in the residential area, he also contributed at the office, and each organization also mobilized and called for donations, making people wonder why they contributed several times for the same amount," Mr. Dinh shared.

Therefore, according to Mr. Nguyen Tien Dinh, rearranging socio-political organizations and mass organizations assigned by the Party and the State to be directly under the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front with the same movement and target, the Front, with its coordinating role, will organize a common launch to reduce the burden on the people.

i add — Delegates attending the 10th National Congress of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, term 2024 - 2029, October 2024. Photo: Quang Vinh.

Historic decision for a new era

In the past time, the implementation of Resolution No. 18 of the Party Central Committee on "Some issues on continuing to innovate and streamline the political system's apparatus to be streamlined and operate effectively and efficiently" and the conclusions of the Politburo on continuing to streamline the organization and apparatus of the political system, the Vietnam Fatherland Front and its member organizations have achieved good results. However, the organization and apparatus are still cumbersome, with many focal points; the functions, tasks, powers, and working relationships between many agencies, units, and organizations are still overlapping and overlapping... in need of rearrangement and streamlining, towards more effective operations.

From Conclusion 126-KL/TW dated February 14, 2025 to Conclusion 127-KL/TW dated February 28, 2025 of the Politburo, the Secretariat assigned the Party Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and central mass organizations to preside over and coordinate with the Central Organizing Committee, the Government Party Committee, the National Assembly Party Committee and relevant agencies to study orientations, develop projects and submit to the Politburo on rearranging socio-political organizations and mass organizations assigned by the Party and State to be directly under the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (in sync with the current party organizational structure).

Dr. Tran Anh Tuan - former Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Administrative Sciences, said that the arrangement of bringing socio-political organizations and mass organizations assigned by the Party and State under the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front not only has a complete political basis and legal basis, but also meets the trend of the times, is in accordance with the law, and is an objective necessity in the current revolution of streamlining the organizational apparatus.

This is a historic decision for the era of national development and this is also the golden time to realize this political determination. According to Mr. Do Van Chien - Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Fatherland Front, Central organizations, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Vietnam Fatherland Front is a political alliance organization, a voluntary union of political organizations, socio-political organizations, social organizations and outstanding individuals in all classes, social strata, ethnic groups, religions and Vietnamese people residing abroad. This is the basis for the arrangement and streamlining of the Fatherland Front agencies, socio-political organizations, and mass organizations assigned by the Party and State to be synchronized from the Central to the provincial and communal levels.

The Central Steering Committee on summarizing the implementation of Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW issued Official Letter No. 43-CV/BCĐ on the Plan to continue to reorganize the apparatus of the political system. The Official Letter clearly stated the requirement for the Party Committee of the Fatherland Front, Central mass organizations to preside over and coordinate with the Central Organizing Committee and relevant agencies to receive opinions from localities, agencies, units, and complete the Submission and Project on reorganizing and streamlining the Fatherland Front agencies, socio-political organizations, and mass organizations assigned by the Party and State to report to the Politburo before March 25, 2025; receive opinions from the Politburo, complete the Submission and Project and send documents to report to the Central Executive Committee before April 1, 2025. According to the plan of the Central Steering Committee, the arrangement of socio-political organizations and mass associations assigned by the Party and State to be under the Vietnam Fatherland Front must be completed before July 15, 2025.

Chairman Do Van Chien affirmed that, with the spirit of solidarity, consensus, high political determination, and resolute implementation of Resolution 18, in the coming time, the Party Committee, the Standing Committee of the Party Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and central organizations will further promote responsibility, share, and unite to lead the Party Committee to complete political tasks, including ensuring the implementation of the Project on streamlining and streamlining the Vietnam Fatherland Front, socio-political organizations, and mass organizations assigned by the Party and State (central, provincial, and communal levels) according to the schedule and requirements set forth by the Politburo.

Say goodbye to the "club within a club" mindset, avoiding the creation of more "intermediary organizations"

Dr. Tran Anh Tuan - former Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Administrative Sciences, said that in the current conditions of streamlining the organizational apparatus, it is necessary to "say goodbye" to the thinking of "associations within associations". When being brought under the direct control of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, it is necessary to avoid creating more "intermediate organizations" which not only cause waste but also add more steps and procedures when implementing mass mobilization activities, participating in consulting, criticism, supervision, scientific research, etc. In fact, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front already has advisory agencies to assist the leaders of the Vietnam Fatherland Front in directing these associations. Therefore, there should not be or not be any more Alliances and Federations of associations when being brought under the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front. The Vietnam Fatherland Front is already the "common roof" of those organizations, there should not be other "small roofs".

Clear tasks, clear responsibilities

According to Ms. Bui Thi Thanh - former Vice President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the rearrangement of socio-political organizations and mass organizations assigned by the Party and the State to be directly under the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front is one of the extremely important contents. This is a major policy of the Party and has been directed strongly by the Politburo, the Secretariat, and General Secretary To Lam with great determination. At the same time, the rearrangement is in line with the Party's organizational structure according to the new model and also ensures compliance with the Constitution on the Front. Thus, the rearrangement will overcome the overlap in functions and tasks. Many associations have similar nature in work, it is inevitable that associations do the same work, while there are some jobs that no organization is interested in. In many cases, the results lack practicality because many associations report the same job. Therefore, the reorganization will promote the strength of the Front in gathering, presiding, negotiating, and connecting members. The reorganization will clarify tasks and responsibilities, thereby improving operational efficiency.

Reasonable arrangement, ensuring inheritance and ability to meet tasks

Ms. Nguyen Lan Huong - Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Hanoi City said that the rearrangement of socio-political organizations and mass organizations assigned by the Party and the State to be directly under the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front is a new step, an unprecedented activity, requiring great efforts and endeavors of the Front officials and mass organizations. To carry out this task well, the Front and mass organizations must study and frankly and objectively assess the role, tasks, and effectiveness of their organizations, the advantages, disadvantages, and coordination of activities of agencies in the past. In addition, it is necessary to assess the requirements of the new era, listen to the opinions of insiders and the people to arrange them reasonably, ensuring inheritance and the ability to meet the tasks in the new situation. I believe that, with the tradition of solidarity, dedication and responsibility, the cadres of the Front system and organizations will do well the tasks assigned by the Central Government.

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