(VOVworld)- Vietnam’s National Assembly in 2013 have carried out activities influencing Vietnam’s political life and creating prerequisites for the legislative body to improve its function.
The 13th National Assembly’s 2013 activities were reflected in its 5th and 6th sessions. The National Assembly made several important decisions including the collection of votes of confidence on officials elected or approved by the National Assembly, adoption of a revised Constitution, a revised Land Law, and several other resolutions on socio-economic development.
Collecting votes of confidence- new chapter in Vietnam’s parliamentary operations
The Vietnamese National Assembly, for the first time since its first session in 1946, conducted votes of confidence on 47 officials who were elected or approved by the National Assembly. This was a progress in the National Assembly’s supervisory activities aiming at evaluating the officials and promoting the National Assembly’s responsibility in selecting talents for the country. Collecting votes of confidence aims at improving the legislative body’s supervisory role and shows the improvement of democracy and true representation of the body that represents the people. National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said: “The results of the votes of confidence reflected the reality of Vietnam’s socio-economic situation, national defense, external relations and judicial activities. This is a good lesson for agencies and organizations at central and grassroots levels. The People’s Councils at all levels need to take into consideration and learn the lesson in collecting votes of confidence for officials elected by the People’s Councils in the near future thus ensuring the effectiveness of supervisory activities and meeting people’s aspirations”.
Important bills approved
In 2013, the National Assembly’ law-making work has proved to be effective resulting in the adoption of a revised Constitution. This was considered a historic political event that opens a new era in national construction and defense. The adoption of the revised Constitution helps ensure a firm political-legal foundation for Vietnamese people to deal with new challenges. Nguyen Thanh Hai is a Deputy from Hoa Binh province: “I believe that the newly-adopted Constitution will contribute to boosting socio-economic development in the coming time. It will also help address contradictions, shortcomings and overlapping between laws.”
In addition to adopting the revised Constitution, the National Assembly approved nearly 20 bills and discussed several other draft laws, which were of great importance in boosting socio-economic development, science and technology, strengthening national defense, security and sustainable growth. Of the laws, the revised Land law is the most notable as it impacts all aspects of people’s lives and national sustainable growth. National Assembly’s Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu says: “The revised Land Law has been adjusted toward ensuring the strictness of land acquisition regulations in association with the authority of the National Assembly, the Government, People’s Councils and People’s Committees. The land acquisition and compensation must be based on the principles of transparency in accordance with laws and in necessary cases”.
Strengthening communications with voters
Many of the National Assembly’s regular meetings were broadcast live on TV and Radio. Le Nhu Tien is a deputy from Quang Tri province: “ In its recent sessions, the National Assembly and the National Assembly’s Standing Committee have made their activities more public. Previously, only the opening, closing, Q&A sessions and sometimes discussions on socio-economic issues were broadcast live. Recently, sessions on supervision and discussions of some laws and the revised Constitution were also made public helping the voters learn more about the National Assembly’s activities”.
In 2013, the National Assembly approved a number of resolutions on socio-economic development creating prerequisites for Vietnam to fulfill its set targets. They included the resolution on state budget adjustments in 2013 and estimates for next year, and the decision to raise the state deficit for the next two years to 5.3% of GDP. The decisions made by the National Assembly in 2013 were of historic significance serving as a motivation for this most powerful state agency to implement its legislative, supervisory and decision making functions.