VietNamNet Bridge – The leadership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam was confirmed by National Assembly deputies at the plenary discussion on draft amendments to the Constitution 1992.

The leadership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam was confirmed by National Assembly deputies at the plenary discussion on draft amendments to the Constitution 1992.

The discussion was broadcast live on national radio and TV yesterday, June 3, as deputies continued the fifth session of the thirteenth meeting.

Most deputies consented to the draft amendments, which had already drawn 26 million comments from the public in the four months to the end of April.

Regarding the country's name, it was proposed by some to change the current title of "Socialist Republic of Viet Nam" to the former one of "Viet Nam Democratic Republic" used between 1946 until July 1976.

But at the yesterday's discussion, most of the deputies disagreed with the idea, saying it was unnecessary and costly to change the country's name.

Deputy Nguyen Van Tuyet from southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province argued that the current name had been in use since the country completed the national democratic revolution and aimed to follow the path of socialism. Keeping the country's name confirms Viet Nam's the same national aim, he said. The name is also recognised in the Constitution 1980 and Constitution 1992.

Deputy Dang Ngoc Tung from southern Dong Nai Province said any change would mean altering thousands of documents at huge cost at a time the nation was facing economic difficulties. He said some would even take advantage of a change, suggesting that the country had diverged from the socialist orientation.

Deputy Tran Van Tu, also from Dong Nai, said that only one out of 700,000 suggestions made in his locality agreed with the proposed change.

It was from someone who wanted to use the first name. Others agreed, saying the current name had become familiar to international friends and peoples for 37 years.

Chu Son Ha of Ha Noi was one of the few deputies who agreed to a change, saying that the former name should be taken as it attached to the first republic regime.

Most the deputies also agreed with Article 4 of the draft amendments, which highlights the leadership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam to the State.

Deputies Nguyen Doan Khanh from northern Phu Tho Province, Ya Duck from the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong and Huynh The Ky from central Ninh Thuan Province shared the argument that the Party had played a big role in the nation's major milestones, including the August 1945 Revolution and recent achievements.

Deputy Truong Thi Hue from northern Thai Nguyen Province added that there should be regulations in the Constitution stipulating that the Party must be held responsible before the law and supervision of the people for any decisions it takes.

Article 54, offering three options on economic sectors, attracted different views from the deputies.

Under the draft document, all three options state that Viet Nam's economy is a socialist-oriented market economy with different forms of ownership and economic sectors.

In option 1, it says that the State economy holds a key role; the collective economy is ceaselessly consolidated and developed; the private economy is one of the driving forces of the whole economy, and foreign-invested economy is encouraged to develop.

In option 2, only the State economy is mentioned as having a primary role.

In option 3, all economic sectors are important constituents to the national economy.

They co-operate, are equal to each other and compete under the law. Legalised properties of the organisations and individuals used for investment, production and business are protected by the law, and they are not nationalised.

While divided on choosing the best option, some deputies opted for the third one. According to Deputy Le Van Tan of northern Ha Nam Province, option 3 ensured all economic sectors were at the same level, resulting in no discrimination against any sector and ensuring the generalisation of the constitution.

He also said that the nation's most important natural resources, for example, oil and gas or power transmission, should be managed by the State. State enterprises can be involved in businesses that the private ones decline to do when encouraged by the State.

Deputy Bui Sy Loi from central Thanh Hoa Province also supported option 3.

The deputies also discussed many other matters of public concern in the amendments, including land ownership rights.

Discussions will continue today, June 4.

Source: VNS