VietNamNet Bridge – The HCM City People's Council, which completes its seven-year term, held its last session yesterday with members hailing it for strengthening the democratic process in the city.

They said in the past seven years they had candidly questioned and criticised the city government.

"The council has openly raised issues concerning the public and helped the city government perform its tasks well," Vo Van Sen, a member, said.

"The council has come closer to the people," he said, adding the achievement should be improved in the eighth term, which will sit in June.

The outgoing council had sat 20 times, assisting the People's Committee by passing 167 resolutions on important issues facing the city.

At each meeting, the council asked city authorities 110 to 170 questions and heard 250 questions voters directly asked over phone about pressing issues.

"This spirit should be maintained in the next term," Sen said.

"We have created an extremely democratic environment. I think it is a great success of the People's Council, seventh term."

He cited several instances where the council monitored flood, food safety, groundwater management, and other tasks carried out by the city government.

However, there are many more issues that need to be resolved, he said.

Another member, Dang Van Khoa, disagreed with many members saying the house had only completed a small part of the task assigned by the people.

"Representing the people and strengthening democracy is our task," he reminded the members who congratulated the house for its achievements.

Chairwoman Pham Phuong Thao said the most impressive achievement of the seventh council was the strengthening the democratic process in the city.

Members were asked to write the council's achievements and undone tasks and put them up in the house for the reference of legislators who will sit in the new house.

Thao had a message to her successors: people's interest should be a priority and when common interests are placed above "group interests" it is easy to get the support of the public.

The lawmakers also disposed of some legislative business in the final session.

They approved a proposal to change toll charges on the Ha Noi Highway, Kinh Duong Vuong Street, and Binh Trieu 2 Bridge from July 1 and allowances for museum and library employees.

Last week the city announced the list of 161 candidates for the election of the next People's Council term, including many popular artists.

Seventy of them received unanimous support. The elections will be held on May 22.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News