Promote decentralization and delegation of authority to local authorities in special economic zones

It is expected that local authorities in special zones will be decentralized and have stronger authority in deciding issues to ensure national independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity in seas and islands.

Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra presented the draft Law on Organization of Local Government (amended) on the morning of May 7. Photo: QUANG PHUC

Presenting the draft Law on Organization of Local Government (amended) at the plenary session of the National Assembly on the morning of May 7, Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra said that the law amendment aims to institutionalize the guiding viewpoints of the Central Executive Committee, Politburo , and Secretariat on organizing local government according to the 2-level model (provincial and communal levels). The draft law focuses on 4 groups of issues.

Accordingly, regarding the regulations related to the demarcation of administrative units (ADUs) and the organization of two-level local governments, the draft stipulates that the provincial level includes: provinces and cities; the communal level includes: communes, wards and special zones (on islands). Special economic administrative units remain as currently regulated, established by the National Assembly. Both provincial and communal governments organize People's Councils and People's Committees to ensure a unified government apparatus that operates smoothly from the central to communal levels.

Delegates attend the plenary session of the National Assembly on the morning of May 7. Photo: QUANG PHUC

Regulations on promoting decentralization, delegation, authorization and tasks and powers of provincial and commune-level local governments have also been amended. Specifically, in addition to the tasks and powers of provincial-level local governments according to current regulations, the draft law supplements a number of regulations to promote decentralization from the Central Government to provincial-level local governments, especially in the promulgation of mechanisms, policies, planning, finance, budget, investment, etc. of localities. Commune-level local governments perform the tasks and powers of current district-level and commune-level local governments; and are allowed to issue legal documents to decide on issues within their authority, scope and management tasks.

In particular, provincial-level local authorities are responsible for promoting decentralization and delegation of authority to local authorities in special zones to grant autonomy in deciding issues to ensure national independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity in sea and island areas.

In the group of issues on local government organization, the provincial-level local government basically maintains the current regulations, only increasing the number of provincial-level People's Council delegates in accordance with the merger of provincial-level administrative units.

Delegates attend the plenary session of the National Assembly on the morning of May 7. Photo: QUANG PHUC

For local authorities at the commune level, the draft stipulates that the People's Council at the commune level has two committees: the Legal Committee and the Economic - Social Committee. The People's Committee at the commune level is allowed to organize specialized agencies, other administrative organizations or arrange specialized civil servant positions to advise and assist the People's Committee at the commune level in managing sectors and fields in the area in accordance with the scale of the (new) commune-level administrative unit according to Government regulations.

Regarding the effective date, the law is expected to take effect from July 1, 2025. However, the law has separate provisions on the transition of local government organization at wards in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang City during the 2021-2026 term and amending, supplementing, and abolishing laws and resolutions of the National Assembly related to the organization of urban government.

After examination, the Committee on Law and Justice approved the fundamental and comprehensive amendment of the current Law on Organization of Local Government as submitted by the Government, and at the same time believed that the draft law dossier was complete, in accordance with regulations, and qualified to be submitted to the National Assembly for consideration and approval according to the shortened procedures at the 9th session.

MR. PHUONG

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/day-manh-phan-cap-uy-quyen-cho-chinh-quyen-dia-phuong-o-dac-khu-post794074.html