Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra speaks at group 5 - Photo: VGP/Thu Giang
On the morning of June 11, continuing the working program of the 2nd session of the 9th Session, National Assembly deputies discussed in groups the Project on arranging provincial-level administrative units (DVHC) in 2025, right after listening to the Government's Submission and the Law Committee's review report on this content.
A "complete restructuring"
Speaking at Group 5 (including National Assembly delegates from Yen Bai, Binh Duong and Quang Nam provinces), Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra (Yen Bai delegation) emphasized that this is a comprehensive and thorough "administrative revolution".
According to Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra, the arrangement of provincial administrative units is not simply a matter of consolidating boundaries or organizing the administrative apparatus, but a comprehensive restructuring of territorial space, institutions, culture, economy as well as development space.
The Minister called this a "comprehensive, thorough revolution" and is being implemented in the "sprint phase", with an urgent speed, a lightning-fast spirit but also "very cautious, thorough, methodical, scientific, strict and serious".
An important highlight in this process is the very high consensus from the entire political system to the people and society.
The Minister affirmed: "We are moving at an urgent but certain pace. Each step is a turning point in a new development space, creating great momentum, confidence and expectations for the entire nation."
According to the Minister, this can be considered the biggest reform of administrative organization since the country's founding. The special point in this arrangement is that it not only takes into account geographical factors, population or natural area, but is also considered comprehensively by the Politburo and the Central Executive Committee in many aspects such as history, culture, ethnicity, religion, belief, development philosophy and social psychology.
Furthermore, this reform is associated with the construction of a two-tier local government model instead of the current three-tier model. This is a new government organization model, considered to be in line with international trends, modern and aiming for higher administrative efficiency.
Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra emphasized: "We are restructuring the administrative system in a direction consistent with the development trend of the country entering a new era."
In particular, during the reorganization process, the Politburo focused on the territorial morphology factor towards the sea. This change in thinking opens up the possibility of maximizing the advantages of the marine economy, effectively linking the South Central Coast with the Central Highlands and aiming at economic centers not only domestically but also regionally and internationally.
According to the plan, the country will rearrange 52 provincial-level administrative units to 23, while maintaining 11 administrative units that have met all criteria. As a result, there will be 34 provinces and cities, including 28 provinces and 6 centrally-run cities.
The implementation roadmap is entering the final stage. The important goal identified by the Politburo and the General Secretary is to ensure that by July 1, 2025, new administrative units will officially operate under the two-tier local government model.
National Assembly deputies discuss in group 5 - Photo: VGP/Thu Giang
Synchronous preparation from central to local level
Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra affirmed that up to this point, the Politburo, the Central Executive Committee, the National Assembly and especially the Government have made comprehensive preparations. The relevant localities have expressed their efforts and high readiness, showing their determination to synchronously and effectively implement the new model according to the right timeline.
According to the Minister, "In the near future, we will officially announce all resolutions and decisions of competent authorities to implement the new model. First of all, it is the Resolution of the National Assembly, then the decision on the establishment of the Party organization, then on the government and the team of cadres, civil servants and public employees to implement it."
The Minister also pointed out the major groups of tasks that need to continue to be focused on in order to be able to operate the two-level local government model.
Regarding the arrangement of cadres, civil servants and public employees. This is a big task, which needs to be carefully calculated to ensure the effective operation of the new apparatus. The Minister also said that he will accept and study the opinions of National Assembly deputies on the fact that it is not necessary for the Heads of People's Council Committees to be People's Council deputies, in order to increase flexibility in personnel arrangements.
Regarding the improvement of the organizational structure at public service units, the Minister especially noted that one should not be rigid in applying Conclusion 128 of the Politburo, to avoid disruption of operations of essential service units such as education and health.
Regarding the regime and policies for cadres and civil servants, according to the Minister, in addition to Decree 178 and Decree 67 amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree 178, the Government is finalizing the amendment of Decree 29 to expand the subjects of streamlining, including non-professional cadres at commune, village, hamlet, and residential group levels. Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra also said that she will conduct further research on subjects of labor contracts according to the provisions of Decree 111 and Decree 161.
Regarding specific policies, the Minister emphasized that for people as well as cadres, civil servants and public employees who are enjoying policies before the rearrangement, they will continue to be maintained as they are.
Similarly, for provinces and localities with special factors and special communes, the current policies will continue to be maintained to ensure stability and consistency. After the implementation process, these policies will be summarized and evaluated by the Government to adjust them to suit the new situation.
The Minister gave a specific example: “For example, when merging a border province with a coastal province, the policy to be applied will need to be calculated. For now, it will remain as it is, waiting for the competent authority to decide.”
Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra also added that the Government will continue to guide major contents related to the arrangement of assets, finance and other related tasks. It is expected that at the upcoming National Conference on training for the entire political system, especially local authorities, the Government and ministries will clarify many more issues to support localities in effectively implementing the arrangement of administrative units.
The Minister also frankly acknowledged that this is a very large administrative revolution, involving the arrangement of both provincial and communal levels and the termination of district-level activities, while reorganizing local government according to a two-tier model. With a huge amount of work, it is inevitable that problems will arise.
“We are learning as we go, we cannot be perfect when carrying out a major revolution like this. If any problems arise during the implementation process, they will be reviewed and adjusted promptly to ensure effectiveness and suitability to reality,” Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra emphasized.
Thu Giang
Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/chinh-quyen-dia-phuong-2-cap-se-van-hanh-tu-1-7-2025-ca-he-thong-chinh-tri-buoc-vao-cuoc-nuoc-rut-lich-su-102250611122819752.htm
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