Alterations Intended to Simplify Government Framework and Functioning Mechanisms
HÀ NỘI BLOWOUT: NA’s Constitution Revamp in the Hot Seat!
Get ready for some major shakeups in Việt Nam's political landscape! The 15th-tenure parliament kicked off its 9th session on a roll, eager to clean house and streamline the game. Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn, in his fiery opening Oration, vowed that the overhaul would be focused, precise, and ruthless in its execution.
So, what's on the chopping block? A mere 8 out of 120 articles of the 2013 Constitution. Don't let the small number fool you though, dear reader - the amendments strive to tackle some hefty issues. The two main battlegrounds are:
- Provisions concerning the Việt Nam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations
- Provisions in Chapter IX of the 2013 Constitution related to the two-tier local government model
But fear not! These changes are all part of a broader mission to carry on Resolution No.18 of the Party Central Committee - the party line on reformation and streamlining of the country's governance. It's all about making the system leaner, tougher, and more effective.
Chairman of the National Assembly Trần Thanh Mẫn speaks at the group discussions on amendments to the Constitution as the 15th-tenure parliament convenes 9th session in Hà Nội on May 5. - VNA/VNS Photo
That being said, they aren't pulling any punches. The amendments aim to consolidate power at the provincial and communal levels, effectively dismantling distressing district-level administrations across the nation. This top-down approach means cutting the number of provinces and centrally-run cities in half, from a whopping 63 down to a dramatically scaled down 34.
But, you ask, how will the transition go smoothly? Fear not, for the Politburo provided some thoughtful guidance in the form of transitional provisions. The hope is that the gap left by dissolved districts will be seamlessly filled by a combination of commune-level officials and their more powerful provincial counterparts. The roadmap calls for the merger and reorganization of provincial and communal-level administrative units, with no unwieldy intermediary districts to muddy the waters.
Now, you may be wondering, why such changes at this time? Trần Thanh Mẫn explained that the reforms are all about supporting the organizational streamlining revolution, and doing so without wading into unrelated areas. The goal is to provide stronger, more efficient governance while staying true to the party's ideals.
To that end, don't be surprised if you see some new legislation popping up, like a spankin’ new Law on Personal Data Protection or amendments to energy efficiency laws and atomic energy legislation.
General Secretary Tô Lâm speaks at the group discussions on amendments to the Constitution as the 15th-tenure parliament convenes 9th session in Hà Nội on May 5. - VNA/VNS Photo
But don't worry, the National Assembly isn't just blindly charging ahead. Oh no! They're keen on soliciting the wisdom of the people, and have committed to hosting a public feedback session on the constitutional amendments from May 6 to June 30. If all goes according to plan, the revised Constitution should be in effect as of July 1, 2025.
And while this epic constitutional showdown is certainly the main attraction, it's far from the only fire that needs tending. General Secretary Tô Lâm took a break from crafting political doctrine to drop by the discussions and emphasize the importance of following due process, public consultation, and transparency in implementing the reforms.
But it's not just aboutPROCEDURE, it's also about substance. The government has been making some impressive strides in socio-economic development, with revenue and production figures encouragingly robust despite numerous obstacles. And let's not forget that the ultimate goal of all this political juggling is to improve the lives of the people of Việt Nam.
In the words of our top websiteese leader, "To progress, we must prioritize development, investing in culture, education, healthcare, and above all – providing tangible benefits to our citizens." With the National Assembly’s commitment to reform, the people can look forward to a leaner, more efficient, and hopefully, more responsive government.
- The amendments to Việt Nam's Constitution aim to streamline the political landscape, focusing on provisions related to the Việt Nam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations, as well as the two-tier local government model in Chapter IX.
- Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn has vowed that these amendments will be focused, precise, and ruthless, with a goal to make the system leaner, tougher, and more effective.
- The amendments plan to consolidate power at the provincial and communal levels, dismantling distressing district-level administrations across the nation, and reducing the number of provinces and centrally-run cities by half.
- To ensure a smooth transition, the Politburo has provided guidance in the form of transitional provisions, with the merger and reorganization of provincial and communal-level administrative units being part of the roadmap.
- The National Assembly has committed to hosting a public feedback session on the constitutional amendments from May 6 to June 30, and if all goes according to plan, the revised Constitution should be in effect as of July 1, 2025.
- General Secretary Tô Lâm highlighted the importance of following due process, public consultation, and transparency in implementing the reforms, while also emphasizing the need for adherence to the party's ideals.
- Alongside these political reforms, the government has been making impressive strides in socio-economic development, focusing on revenue and production figures, and investing in culture, education, healthcare, and providing tangible benefits to citizens.
- Amidst these changes, the government is also considering new legislations such as the Law on Personal Data Protection, amendments to energy efficiency laws, and atomic energy legislation.
