With Lao Dong Newspaper - the voice of the Vietnamese working class - the newspapers published in the period 1945-1946 not only performed the task of information but also propagated, encouraged, and guided workers to exercise their sacred citizenship for the first time - holding votes to vote for the National Assembly on the day of the General Election (January 6, 1946).
Towards the historic General Election
After the August Revolution of 1945, Lao Dong Newspaper was published publicly, the newspaper's editorial office was located at 51 Hang Bo, Hanoi - an address associated with many historical events of the Workers' Movement and Revolutionary Press. On October 18, 1945, Lao Dong Newspaper published issue 13 - one of the first issues after the successful August Revolution. Today, this issue is one of the rare documents being stored at the National Library.
The newspaper at that time only had 2 pages, size 45x35cm, but the content was dense, focusing on the vital issues of the country and the working class. Also in this issue, information related to preparations for the General Election Day was mentioned.
One of the typical articles published in the first page of issue 13 is "Delegates of workers throughout Hoang Dieu city visit President Ho Chi Minh". The article reports on the meeting on October 9, 1945 at the Government Palace, when 21 delegates of workers in Hoang Dieu city were received by President Ho Chi Minh.
Right at the beginning of the article, Lao Dong Newspaper quoted Uncle Ho's words: "If the country is completely independent, the Government can thoroughly resolve the rights of workers". This is a message of special significance, closely linking the rights and responsibilities of the working class with the national destiny.
On page 2, continuing the content of page 1, the newspaper publishes specific instructions from President Ho Chi Minh on the tasks of workers before the General Election. The article quotes Uncle Ho's admonition: Workers, like other classes, must choose worthy delegates; must carefully consider what benefits bringing this person to the people will bring and what disadvantages bringing that person to the people will bring. Must investigate whether the person you selected is truly concerned about your rights. Must propagate and encourage the person you have placed trust in.
Those instructions of President Ho Chi Minh, through newspapers, have become a simple but profound "election handbook" for a large number of workers - those who first approach a national-scale election.
In the History of Lao Dong Newspaper, it is also recorded: "Returning to the first pages of Lao Dong Newspaper published publicly after the August Revolution, we will see a very vivid picture of the life of our country's working class, the attitude towards current affairs, the youthful revolutionary government defense campaigns... The newspaper held the National Assembly election on January 6, 1946, voting for the first workers' delegates of our country to the highest office of the country".
The breath of life in each page of the newspaper and the National Assembly Chamber
The first National Assembly was a particularly long 14-year term (1946 - 1960) with 12 sessions, passing the 1946 Constitution and the 1959 Constitution. Lao Dong Newspaper No. 691, published on January 2, 1960, continued to mark its role in accompanying the National Assembly and the Vietnamese working class. The newspaper issue is printed in red and black, with four pages, highlighted with a floral slogan: "NEW YEAR, NEW CONSTITUTION, NEW ERA", along with the line: "The 11th Session of the National Assembly ends well".
The front page of the newspaper is largely devoted to the event of the 1st National Assembly passing the 1959 Constitution on December 31, 1959. The newspaper published an article "The President has signed a decree announcing the Constitution", accompanied by images of workers of Tran Hung Dao Garment Factory holding a meeting in the factory, watching the National Assembly session on radio.
The article reads: "On the afternoon of December 31, 1959, from the National Assembly hall to the streets, the most jubilant and joyful scenes took place. People automatically brought flowers, flags, and banners to welcome the new Constitution. At 3:50 PM, the entire National Assembly unanimously voted to pass the new Constitution. Standing in the middle of the capital's delegation of people of all classes and ages, from old men with gray beards to teenagers wearing red scarves, President Ho Chi Minh said: "Tomorrow is the new year, our people have the new Constitution. That is a new era to promote the construction of the North and the cause of national reunification".
The article reflects the excited atmosphere of tens of thousands of workers in the Capital's enterprises standing by the machines to receive the National Assembly's resolutions and then, together with the compatriots, waving flags and marching towards the square of the City Theater to welcome the new Constitution. These vivid descriptions show the close connection between the National Assembly, the Constitution and the lives of workers - a connection that was laid the foundation from the 1946 General Election.
Looking back at the 80-year journey since the General Election, it can be seen that, together with the Vietnamese Revolutionary Press, Lao Dong Newspaper has contributed to the success of the historic election.
