Professor Nguyen Dinh Cong, a person who has left the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam and recently announced his self-nomination to run for Vietnam’s highest legislative body National Assembly (NA) in the 15th tenure, said that the parliament has too many rubber-stamped members and it is “a disaster of the nation.” He shared the necessary functions of the NA, as well as the weak shortcomings of the Vietnamese legislature, and stated clearly his enthusiasm and action plan with the aim of focusing on two main areas: law-making and review activities. He shared on his personal Facebook page: “If I get elected to the NA, I will not remain silent.”
The following is VOA’s interview with Dr. Nguyen Dinh Cong, 83 years old, a professor of construction, once received the title of “People’s Teacher” at Hanoi University of Civil Engineering, but later on, became a dissident.
Prof. Nguyen Dinh Cong gives an interview to VOA about the Vietnam NA election for the 15th term.
VOA: Welcome to Prof. Nguyen Dinh Cong. Could you please tell us about your intention to self-nominate for the 15th NA, when you did submit your application, how did the local authorities accept it? Are there any obstacles or not?
Prof. Nguyen Dinh Cong: I am over 80 years old this year, but I still feel healthy, but the most important thing is that I have many thoughts, ideas, and wishes to contribute to building the country. If it was just an old man, ordinary people would only be very good at writing a few dozen articles. I want to contribute positively and effectively, then I will be able to participate in the planning. The second reason, I really hope the country has an effective parliament: it represents the people. To do this, the NA must have many good people to make law and perform the role of the legislature. In addition, on the occasion of the policy of more non-Party members participating in the NA – in fact, such policy is unknown – but this stimulates me and makes me self-nominate.
In the process of completing the application, it is necessary to give the local authorities a background confirmation and there are many difficulties. I see this as a test of patience. So my resume was up to the 7th time, and I have to say it was very hard.
VOA: What are your aspirations and agenda for this time election? Can you share your program of action?
Prof. Nguyen Dinh Cong: My action plan has several points like this: The current law building of the NA is very weak. The NA is a legislative body and its most important task is to make law, but the current parliament only passed a law but not yet made a law, and the government and the executive authorities in branches and sectors are building bills for them. And so, there are laws that are needed by the people that no one has done yet. Asking the NA, and it says that no one had proposed it. My first wish when becoming the NA member is that I will reform, renew the way of making laws, and quickly issue laws that people are in desperate need.
I have watched the activities of the NA for a long time and found that although there are questioning sessions to ministers, there are no criticism sessions – to criticize the lines of the state, of the leaders … what countries call arguing and hearing to see if they are doing right or wrong. Currently, no one is a reviewer. When I join the NA, I will propose this and perform the role of reviewers in the National Assembly.
I am a scientist and an educator, and knowledgeable about many different fields, and I can actively make a special contribution to the field of culture and education. I also propose to open to each parliamentarian an office and a supporting staff to operate effectively.
VOA: Recently, Mr. Ho A Lenh, vice president cum general secretary of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, has said that there is an “open door” for self-nominated candidates. What is your opinion on this statement?
Prof. Nguyen Dinh Cong: There are also things that are commendable and despicable. Praiseworthy they know how to open doors to let people in, but the nature of the door opening and closing is deplorable. The election has to be open, there is no door, everyone is free. Setting the door means setting up a monopoly. The thought, concept, and sense of having such a door are wrong. It must be deleted, there is no door at all. The Fatherland Front’s ideology is a monopoly, “I have the right to open to anyone, that person in!”
VOA: The Fatherland Front has also structured the number of nominated candidates and who can be self-nominated candidates. What do you think about this structure?
Prof. Nguyen Dinh Cong: The structure that violates morality and violates the law. The choice of the National Assembly is by the voters. Voters would vote for these candidates they like. And such a structure is arbitrary. When not elected, how do we know the structures of the parliament next term? Are those tricks and measures that are not transparent: closing the list, setting up tips, and cheating.
They should mobilize people to elect. Pre-determination represents the point of dictatorship, authoritarianism and I disagree with structure.
The country’s parliament needs outsiders “to avoid having a reputation of monopoly“?
VOA: What do you think about the ballot and the voice of voters in the elections in Vietnam?
Prof. Nguyen Dinh Cong: In 1946 Vietnam had its first general election, showing a civilized democracy anyway. In the subsequent elections, apart from the mouth, people say that it is common to vote, nearly 100% of the voters go to the polls and the candidates can be elected at a very high rate of 95-98%, but in fact, the parliamentarians have been chosen by the party. People are just legalizing the party’s decision. Actually, we could know who will be elected before the election, so there is no democracy!
The form of the elected Party election is the most anti-democratic form that people still practice and still accept. Know how to be!
There is now a movement saying that such elections should be boycotted, but I don’t think the time has come yet. Just like that. I have to campaign to have more people self-nominated.
Looking at the National Assembly election says it is democratic, but if it is true that the party elects, then there is no democracy anymore. That is only fake democracy.
Vietnam’s democratization is a difficult problem, a tough road!
VOA: Thank you very much for your time, professor, for this interview.
Thoibao.de (Translated)
Source: https://www.voatiengviet.com/a/gs-nguyen-dinh-cong-neu-vao-duoc-quoc-hoi/5817852.html
