Vietnamese Fatherland Front
Encyclopedia
The Vietnamese Fatherland Front founded February 1977 (merged Vietnamese Fatherland Front of North Vietnam
, National Liberation Front of South Vietnam and Alliance of National, Democratic and Peace Forces of Việt Nam in the South Vietnam
), is an umbrella group of pro-government "mass movements" in Vietnam
, and has close links to the Communist Party of Vietnam
and the Vietnamese government. It is an amalgamation of many smaller groups, including the Communist Party itself. Other groups that participated in the establishment of the Front were the remnants of the Viet Cong, the Vietnamese General Confederation of Labour, and the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth League (aka the Hồ Chí Minh Youth). It also included the Democratic Party of Vietnam
and Socialist Party of Vietnam
, until they were disbanded in 1988 http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Soc/soc.culture.vietnamese/2006-06/msg00398.html. It also incorporates some officially sanctioned religious groups.
The Front is described by the Vietnamese government as "the political base of people's power." It is intended to have a significant role in society, promoting "national solidarity" and "unity of mind in political and spiritual matters." Many of the government's social programs are conducted through the Front. Recently, it has been given a role in programs to reduce poverty
. The Front is also responsible for much of the government's policy on religion
, and has the ability to determine which religious groups will receive official approval.
Perhaps more importantly, the Front is intended to supervise the activity of the government
and of government organizations. Because the Front is based around mass participation and popular mobilization, it is seen as representative of the people, and both Vietnam's constitution
and laws give it a special role. The Front has a particularly significant role in elections. Specifically, endorsement by the Front is generally required (in practice, if not in theory) to be a candidate for election. Almost all candidates are nominated by (and members of) the Front, with only a few "self-nominated" candidates avoiding the Front's veto. The Front's role in electoral nominations is mandated by law.
The current Chairman of the Presidium of the Vietnamese Fatherland Front is Mr. Huỳnh Đảm.
Chairman of the Vietnamese Fatherland Front since 1977:
Hoàng Quốc Việt (1977-1983),
Huỳnh Tấn Phát (1983-1988),
Nguyễn Hữu Thọ (1988-1994),
Lê Quang Đạo
(1994-1999),
Phạm Thế Duyệt (1999-2008),
Huỳnh Đảm (from 2008).
North Vietnam
The Democratic Republic of Vietnam , was a communist state that ruled the northern half of Vietnam from 1954 until 1976 following the Geneva Conference and laid claim to all of Vietnam from 1945 to 1954 during the First Indochina War, during which they controlled pockets of territory throughout...
, National Liberation Front of South Vietnam and Alliance of National, Democratic and Peace Forces of Việt Nam in the South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
), is an umbrella group of pro-government "mass movements" in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, and has close links to the Communist Party of Vietnam
Communist Party of Vietnam
The Communist Party of Vietnam , formally established in 1930, is the governing party of the nation of Vietnam. It is today the only legal political party in that country. Describing itself as Marxist-Leninist, the CPV is the directing component of a broader group of organizations known as the...
and the Vietnamese government. It is an amalgamation of many smaller groups, including the Communist Party itself. Other groups that participated in the establishment of the Front were the remnants of the Viet Cong, the Vietnamese General Confederation of Labour, and the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth League (aka the Hồ Chí Minh Youth). It also included the Democratic Party of Vietnam
Democratic Party of Vietnam
The Democratic Party of Vietnam was a political party in North Vietnam and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. It was founded on 30 July 1944 to unite petty bourgeoisie and intelligentsia. It joined Vietminh. From 1954 to 1975, it was active in North Vietnam and from 1975 to 1988 in the re-unified...
and Socialist Party of Vietnam
Socialist Party of Vietnam
The Socialist Party of Vietnam was a political party in Vietnam. It existed from 1946 to 1988. It was founded with the official aim of uniting 'patriotic intelligentsia'. Along with the Democratic Party of Vietnam, the Socialists joined the government of then-North Vietnam The Socialist Party of...
, until they were disbanded in 1988 http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Soc/soc.culture.vietnamese/2006-06/msg00398.html. It also incorporates some officially sanctioned religious groups.
The Front is described by the Vietnamese government as "the political base of people's power." It is intended to have a significant role in society, promoting "national solidarity" and "unity of mind in political and spiritual matters." Many of the government's social programs are conducted through the Front. Recently, it has been given a role in programs to reduce poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
. The Front is also responsible for much of the government's policy on religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
, and has the ability to determine which religious groups will receive official approval.
Perhaps more importantly, the Front is intended to supervise the activity of the government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
and of government organizations. Because the Front is based around mass participation and popular mobilization, it is seen as representative of the people, and both Vietnam's constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
and laws give it a special role. The Front has a particularly significant role in elections. Specifically, endorsement by the Front is generally required (in practice, if not in theory) to be a candidate for election. Almost all candidates are nominated by (and members of) the Front, with only a few "self-nominated" candidates avoiding the Front's veto. The Front's role in electoral nominations is mandated by law.
The current Chairman of the Presidium of the Vietnamese Fatherland Front is Mr. Huỳnh Đảm.
Chairman of the Vietnamese Fatherland Front since 1977:
Hoàng Quốc Việt (1977-1983),
Huỳnh Tấn Phát (1983-1988),
Nguyễn Hữu Thọ (1988-1994),
Lê Quang Đạo
Lê Quang Đạo
Lê Quang Đạo was born Ha Bac Province, north Vietnam. He member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam from 1960 to 1991, chairman of the National Assembly and also one of the Vice Chairmen of the State Council of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam from 1987 to 1992....
(1994-1999),
Phạm Thế Duyệt (1999-2008),
Huỳnh Đảm (from 2008).
Formerly Front organisations
- League for the Independence of Vietnam (Viet MinhViet MinhViệt Minh was a national independence coalition formed at Pac Bo on May 19, 1941. The Việt Minh initially formed to seek independence for Vietnam from the French Empire. When the Japanese occupation began, the Việt Minh opposed Japan with support from the United States and the Republic of China...
) founded by Hồ Chí MinhHo Chi MinhHồ Chí Minh , born Nguyễn Sinh Cung and also known as Nguyễn Ái Quốc, was a Vietnamese Marxist-Leninist revolutionary leader who was prime minister and president of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam...
in 19 May 1941.
- Vietnamese National Popular League (Hội Liên hiệp Quốc dân Việt Nam or Liên Việt), founded in 29 May 1946. Head of League: Huynh Thuc KhangHuynh Thuc KhangHuỳnh Thúc Kháng was a Vietnamese anti-colonialist and associate of Phan Chu Trinh.Born in Thanh Binh in Tien Phuoc district in Quang Nam Province, the same district from which Trinh hailed, Khang went on to top the imperial examinations in 1900.Most cities in Vietnam, regardless of the political...
(1946-1947), Bùi Bằng Đoàn (1947-1951).
- Vietnamese National Popular Front (Mặt trận Liên Việt), founded 1951, merged Viet Minh and Lien Viet. Chairman: Tôn Đức Thắng
- Vietnamese Fatherland Front (Mặt trận Tổ quốc Việt Nam), founded 1955 replaced Vietnamese National Popular Front. Chairman: Tôn Đức Thắng*
- National Liberation Front of South Vietnam (Viet Cong), founded in 20 December 1960. Chairman: Nguyễn Hữu Thọ
- Alliance of National, Democratic and Peace Forces of Việt Nam, founded in 20 April 1968. Chairman: Trịnh Đình Thảo.
External links
- Vietnamese Fatherland Front official website (in Vietnamese)