VietNamNet Bridge - "Compared to the old version, the draft Constitution for the comments of people has a new point: it does not specify the state economic sector as the mainstream," said National Assembly Vice Chairman--Uong Chu Luu, at the national conference on collecting people's opinions on the draft amendments to the Constitution.

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All economic sectors are equal

All economic sectors are important components of the national economy, and together develop in the long term, cooperate, operate equally and compete under law.

In a detailed explanation of the new points in the draft constitutional amendments, NA Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu said, rather than fixing "the state economic sector is the mainstream" as the old draft, the new draft modifies the content of the economic system as follows: "Vietnam's economy is the socialist-oriented market economy with many forms of ownership and economic sectors. All economic sectors are important components of the national economy, and together develop in the long term, cooperate, operate equally and compete under law" (Article 54).

The draft also defines the role of the State in developing and perfecting the economic institution, ensuring that the economy operates under market rules; performing the assignment and decentralization of state management between sectors, levels, promoting regional economic integration, ensuring the rational development, harmony among regions, localities and the consistency of the national economy.

On the other hand, the amended Constitution reaffirms the freedom of business, clarifies public assets, including land, being owned by the whole people.

Luu explained, the above provision on economic mode just sticks to the content of the Platform, and suits the nature of the provisions of the Constitution. The name and role of each specific economic sector will be determined in the specific laws and policies of the State.

However, some suggested specifying the name and role of each economic sector in the Constitution to clarify the nature of the socialist-oriented market economy.

The Constitutional Council will point out unconstitutional documents

According to the explanation of the Constitution Amendment Committee, the draft has added three new regulations on the three independent constitutional institutions, including the Constitutional Council, the National Election Council and the State Auditor.

Luu explained that the new content is to clarify people's sovereignty, mechanisms on assignment, coordination, control of power.

The addition of the Constitutional Council is said to implement the policy of the Party Congress IX, X and XI of the construction of mechanisms ruling on the constitutional violations in legislative activities, law enforcement, and judiciary.

The draft stipulates that the NA establishes the Constitutional Council as the agency in charge of protecting the Constitution including the chair, the vice chairs and members.

It is expected that the Constitutional Council shall be competent to check the constitutionality of legal documents issued by the National Assembly, the President, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, the Government, the Prime Minister, the Supreme People's Court, and the Supreme People's Procuracy.

Le Nhung