VietNamNet Bridge – The National Assembly deputies listened to a report on the amendment of the Constitution originally ratified in 1992 during its hearing yesterday, Oct 29. The Assembly also examined five other legislative projects.

Chairman of the NA's Law Committee Phan Trung Ly said the amended Constitution would lay a foundation for implementing economic and political reforms, protecting the country and integrating into the world economy.

The law committee suggested holding a referendum on the document from January 2 to March 31. The referendum would be organised so that every social class could have their say on every aspect of the amended constitution.

At this working session, the National Assembly would comment on the first draft of the amended constitution and issue a directive on organising the referendum.

Regarding the Land Law project, the report presented by Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Minh Quang affirmed that the Land Law would be amended from the perspective that land is owned by the people as a whole and is managed by the State on behalf of the people.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat also presented the draft of the Law on Disaster Preparedness and Prevention, which aims to make the country more efficient in dealing with natural calamities.

After that, Minister of Justice Ha Hung Cuong presented the drafted law on reconciliation work at the local level while Minister of Public Security Tran Dai Quang presented the drafted law on terrorism prevention and control, which he saidwould create a solid framework for anti-terrorism activities.

Deputies want to vote

The National Assembly (NA) deputies backed the promulgation of a resolution on conducting votes of confidence on persons holding positions elected or approved by the NA or People's Councils at their group discussion yesterday.

Most of the NA deputies of Ha Noi said that the resolution was necessary, and agreed it fit with the Government's current laws and regulations. However, they believed the resolution should focus only on those who could affect the country's socio-economic development.

Deputy Bui Thi An from Ha Noi stressed that the confidence vote would play an important role in providing the country with strong leaders.

"It would be one of the best ways to make sure leaders were qualified," said An.

An suggested that the vote of confidence should focus on the 49 important positions elected by the NA and People's Councils. These include the positions of NA Chairman and Deputy Chairmen and Heads of NA Committees and Councils as well as others more highly ranked, like the Prime Minister, Deputy Ministers, State President and Vice President.

However, she added that the confidence vote should be conducted yearly instead of every two years as the proposal outlines. Deputies from HCM City, Hai Phong and Thanh Hoa agreed with An that fewer positions should be voted on.

Deputies said that it would be unnecessary and unrealistic for the resolution to cover all 49 NA key positions and 380 members of the NA's Committees.

Many deputies in different NA groups did not know each other, they pointed out, so it would not be fair to force a deputy to pass judgment on a person whom he or she did not know well.

The NA members also agreed with the drafted resolution that there should be four levels to assess confidence in an official. Those who get more than 50 percent low-confidence votes for two consecutive years will have to undergo no-confidence motions at the National Assembly or People's Council.

Deputies Truong Trong Nghia from HCM City and Dao Van Binh from Ha Noi said that the confidence assessment should be divided into 3 levels (high-medium-low) without the extra "no comment" option proposed in the draft.

Thanh said that a deputy should have to provide a definitive opinion like high or low, rather than a neutral statement like a "no comment" vote.

VietNamNet/VNS