Amendment to the 2013 Constitution: Clearly affirming the legal status of the Front

Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Thi An, former delegate of the 13th National Assembly : "It is very necessary to amend and supplement the 2013 Constitution at this time." Photo: VGP/Kim Lien

Clarifying the rights and responsibilities of the Front

Giving comments on the draft resolution amending and supplementing a number of articles of the 2013 Constitution, Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Thi An, former delegate of the 13th National Assembly, emphasized that the Constitution is the highest law of our country, plays a supreme role in political and legal life, and is truly the highest legal foundation, fully reflecting the nature of the socialist rule of law in Vietnam.

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Thi An, it is very necessary to amend and supplement the 2013 Constitution at this time because it is suitable for the requirements of national development in the new period.

Firstly, in the face of rapid changes in the domestic and international economic and political situation, the Constitution needs to be updated to meet the requirements of integration, digital transformation, green economy, protection of sovereignty , democracy and human rights, contributing to enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of the State apparatus. Amending the Constitution is an opportunity to reorganize the apparatus in the direction of streamlining, effectiveness, efficiency, clear responsibilities and better control of power...

Second, amending the Constitution will help establish a clearer and more substantial mechanism to control power in legislative, executive and judicial bodies; promptly institutionalize the Party's new policies and guidelines, especially after the 13th National Congress. The amendment of the Constitution aims to more clearly demonstrate the country's development goals until 2020, with a vision to 2045; at the same time, clarify the viewpoint of sustainable development of a socialist-oriented market economy, green transformation, and innovation.

Commenting on Article 9 of the draft Resolution amending and supplementing a number of articles of the 2013 Constitution, Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Thi An said that the 2013 Constitution stipulates that the Vietnam Fatherland Front is the place to promote the strength of national unity, practice democracy, supervise and provide social criticism; is the "bridge" between the people and the Party and the State, so this Constitution in Article 9 is added "as part of the political system of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, led by the Communist Party of Vietnam".

"I strongly agree with adding the phrase "part" because it has the meaning of affirming the political and legal position of the Front in the close relationship and coordination with the Party, the State and other socio-political organizations. At the same time, it is not to be misunderstood that the Front is simply a mass mobilization organization," Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Thi An emphasized.

Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Thi An suggested that in order for the Vietnam Fatherland Front to be worthy of being a part of the political system and representing the great national unity bloc, it is necessary to specify the rights of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, such as the right to submit projects to the National Assembly, the right to submit draft ordinances to the National Assembly Standing Committee. This is very promising because the Fatherland Front is a place to gather the wisdom, aspirations, and multi-dimensional opinions from the people and social classes. In addition, implementing this right is to ensure that the people participate in the law-making in a substantive manner through the representative of the Front; especially now that socio-political organizations are directly under the Front...

In addition, according to Ms. An, it is necessary to study and supplement the right to proactively organize social criticism activities on policies and guidelines of draft legal documents and project programs that affect people's lives, regardless of the request or approval of other organizations and agencies, because reality shows that many issues of people's lives need to be criticized early, if we just "wait for opinions", it will not be timely.

In addition, the right to proactively detect will help improve the effectiveness of the Front, properly demonstrating the role of a representative of the people in supervising and providing social criticism to contribute to preventing policy risks, increasing transparency and implementation of State management decisions.

Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Thi An said that it is necessary to soon have a law amending and supplementing the Law on the Vietnam Fatherland Front in 2015 to specify the new constitutional rights; strengthen coordination with legislative, executive and judicial agencies so that the voice of the Fatherland Front is not considered "auxiliary" but has real guiding value, contributing to policy improvement.

"Amending Article 9 of the 2013 Constitution is not only a technical adjustment but also an institutional step forward, affirming the role and real power of the Vietnam Fatherland Front in building a socialist rule-of-law state of Vietnam of the people, by the people, for the people," said Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Thi An.

Overcoming overlap and duplication in the organization

Mr. Nguyen Tu Tuan (member of Thang Long Club): Amending the Constitution will create favorable conditions to expand development space for localities. Photo: VGP/Kim Lien

Mr. Nguyen Tu Tuan (member of Thang Long Club) said that the contents put forward for comments on amendments and supplements this time focus on core issues related to the organization of the political system, especially the Vietnam Fatherland Front, socio-political organizations and the demarcation of administrative units and local government organizations.

"I completely agree with this spirit of innovation because this is the foundation for improving governance efficiency, clearly demonstrating responsibility to the people and to history. The amendment and supplementation of regulations on the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations (Articles 9 and 10 of the 2013 Constitution) aims to implement the Party's major policy of reducing focal points and improving operational efficiency," said Mr. Tuan.

The amendment and supplementation of a number of articles of the 2013 Constitution creates an important legal basis for carrying out the revolution in the organization of the political system, arranging administrative units at the provincial and communal levels, especially perfecting the People's Council and People's Committee for the 2021-2026 term, ensuring to meet practical requirements when there are no more district-level administrative units, in accordance with the two-level local government organization model.

According to Mr. Tuan, this amendment to the Constitution not only aims to build a streamlined, efficient, effective and efficient apparatus, but also creates favorable conditions to expand development space for localities, improve the quality of life of the people, and meet the development requirements of the country in the new period.

"The amendment to the 2013 Constitution needs to be carefully drafted, trying to make it as concise as possible, avoiding confusing words; avoiding overlapping provisions that have been stipulated in the 2013 Constitution relatively clearly without needing to be repeated; avoiding additional provisions that are not completely suitable, it is necessary to carefully review each article, trying to make it as concise as possible," Mr. Tuan wished.

Regarding the amendment of regulations on administrative units and local governments, Mr. Tuan basically agreed with the amendment to implement the requirements of streamlining the organization, overcoming overlaps and duplications in the organization and operation of administrative units and local governments, eliminating intermediate levels (district level)... This amendment is suitable for the socio-political situation of the country, making the apparatus more streamlined, more effective and closer to the people.

Kim Lien

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/sua-doi-hien-phap-nam-2013-khang-dinh-ro-dia-vi-phap-ly-cua-mat-tran-102250516172452565.htm