Brian Jeffrey
The General Secretary along with the Party Central Committee is firmly focusing on reforming the political structure in Vietnam. VietNamNet shares expert insights on how to implement this reform.
Section 1: Streamlining Vietnam’s political framework: Attracting talent leads the way
Section 2: Experts recommend a transition to a three-tier governance structure in Vietnam
Section 3: Reducing the number of National Assembly deputies: A necessary step for better efficiency and quality
In this second part of the conversation, we feature Nguyen Van Phuc, a member of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, former Deputy Chair of the National Assembly’s Economic Committee, and Deputy Editor of the Constitutional Amendment Editorial Board.
Incorporating non-Party representatives within the National Assembly enhances objectivity and democratic values in its operations.
Currently, some agencies and Party affiliates heavily rely on Party leadership when presenting drafts, often lacking thorough preparation which leads to less convincing proposals. This practice runs counter to guidelines from the Central Committee and the Politburo, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive preparation prior to seeking National Assembly approval.
A notable instance occurred in 2010 when the Politburo approved the Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City high-speed rail project, yet it was ultimately dismissed by numerous delegates due to insufficient groundwork by responsible agencies rather than a failure of the Politburo directive.
At present, only a small number (four) of delegates are self-nominated, but this count is expected to rise as the National Assembly encourages such participation. Esteemed self-nominated delegates like Prof. Dr. Nguyen Anh Tri, Prof. Dr. Hoang Van Cuong from Hanoi, and Lawyer Truong Trong Nghia from Ho Chi Minh City have notably contributed to the Assembly.
Retired experts and managers who still possess relevant skills and knowledge should be motivated to self-nominate for seats in the Assembly.
Increased representation of non-Party delegates would help prevent over-reliance on Party guidelines, forcing agencies to articulate well-reasoned and convincing arguments to build consensus, addressing concerns raised by historical leaders like Lenin and President Ho Chi Minh.
I advocate for a sensible increase in non-Party candidates for the National Assembly, allowing voters to determine the outcomes. For instance, to aim for a 10% representation of non-Party delegates, around 15% of the candidates should ideally be non-Party individuals.
Moreover, it’s important that the Council for Ethnic Affairs and each National Assembly committee consists of a specified number of non-Party representatives, which is currently lacking as most members are Party affiliates.
The priority must be on defining the total size, structure, and makeup of National Assembly delegates to ensure they are of high quality. Here are some considerations:
The existing structure is not fully optimal, and the quality of delegates may not always match the Assembly’s roles and responsibilities.
In certain terms, some delegates have not engaged during discussions or faced challenges articulating their thoughts effectively during debates.
Additionally, the distinction between “central delegates” and “local delegates” has weakened the Assembly’s status as the highest representative entity of the people and the state. Delegates should embody national interests rather than solely represent their local constituencies.
Instead of having separate nominations from central and local bodies, all candidates should be proposed by the Central Fatherland Front, ensuring a fair distribution for voter selection nationally. This would facilitate a more balanced and capable assembly.
Although the Council for Ethnic Affairs and committees play pivotal roles in the National Assembly, a majority of their members serve as part-time delegates. These organizations should not function like regular state agencies but retain their unique responsibilities in oversight and legislative evaluations across various domains.
The structure of the Council for Ethnic Affairs and committees should be effectively streamlined while ensuring their specialized capabilities are maintained. They need to collaborate smoothly with government ministries and judiciary entities to fulfill their constitutional duties comprehensively.
Nonetheless, much of the recent organizational growth in the National Assembly has been concentrated in advisory roles and the operational framework, particularly within the Office of the National Assembly and the Secretariat for the Secretary-General.
