The Vietnamese Fatherland Front (Vietnamese: Mặt Trận Tổ Quốc Việt Nam) 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 Vietnam General Confederation of Trade Unions, and the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth League. 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 responsibility 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 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 President of the Vietnamese Fatherland Front is Pham The Duyet.

External link

• Vietnamese Fatherland Front official website (http://www.mattran.org.vn/) (in Vietnamese)