A culture of resignation should be encouraged for those who receive a 'low confidence' rating from at least two-thirds of the total number of National Assembly and People's Council deputies.

Under the chairmanship of Comrade Thai Thanh Quy - Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation, and Chairman of the Provincial People's Council of Nghe An, the National Assembly deputies in the group discussed the draft Resolution on taking votes of confidence and no-confidence votes for those holding positions elected or approved by the National Assembly and People's Councils (amended); and the draft Resolution of the National Assembly on piloting some specific mechanisms and policies for the development of Ho Chi Minh City.

Before the group discussions, the National Assembly held a plenary session in the Dien Hong Hall of the National Assembly building to hear presentations and reports on the draft Resolution on taking votes of confidence and no-confidence votes for those holding positions elected or approved by the National Assembly and People's Councils (amended). Photo: Quang Khanh

Speaking in the discussion, Major General Tran Duc Thuan - Standing Member of the National Assembly's Committee on National Defense and Security, and a representative from Nghe An province - strongly agreed with the necessity of amending Resolution No. 85/2014/QH13 on taking votes of confidence and no-confidence votes for those holding positions elected or approved by the National Assembly and People's Councils, in order to institutionalize Regulation No. 96-QĐ/TW dated February 2, 2023, of the Politburo on taking votes of confidence for leadership and management positions in the political system.

Based on that, Major General Tran Duc Thuan also raised some points related to the principles of confidence votes and no-confidence votes; especially regarding the basis for assessing the level of confidence in the person being subjected to the confidence vote or no-confidence vote.

Delegates believe that the draft Resolution on taking votes of confidence and no-confidence votes for office holders elected or approved by the National Assembly and People's Councils (amended) has clearly specified the contents that those subject to the vote of confidence must report, including reports on their activities and asset declarations submitted to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly.

Major General Tran Duc Thuan - Standing Member of the National Assembly's Committee on National Defense and Security, and representative of the Nghe An delegation, speaks during the discussion in Group 3. Photo: Thanh Long

However, based on the analysis, the subjects of the confidence vote by the National Assembly and the Provincial People's Council include those holding positions elected or approved by the National Assembly and the Provincial People's Council. Major General Tran Duc Thuan suggested that, for those approved by the National Assembly and the Provincial People's Council, an additional report from the direct management agency is needed to enhance the role and responsibility of the direct manager in the evaluation, in addition to the reports stipulated in the draft Resolution.

Furthermore, noting that officials are now evaluated from multiple perspectives, with all evaluation processes including input from their place of residence, the delegate from Nghe An province suggested that feedback from their place of residence should be included for those being evaluated by the National Assembly and People's Councils. This would "provide very specific information for National Assembly deputies to make accurate assessments and evaluations; and at the same time, allow these individuals to have more frequent and closer contact with their place of residence."

Regarding the regulations on the consequences for those subject to a vote of confidence, General Thuan noted that this draft contains many innovations, being specific and very clear. He also suggested that if a person subject to a vote of confidence receives a "low confidence" rating from 2/3 or more of the total number of National Assembly deputies or People's Council deputies, that person should be encouraged to resign; the process as stipulated in the draft, which states that "the agency or person with the authority to nominate that person for election or approval by the National Assembly or People's Council is responsible for submitting the matter to the National Assembly or People's Council for dismissal at that session or the nearest session," should not be implemented; thereby encouraging a culture of resignation.

Representative Hoang Minh Hieu - Standing Member of the National Assembly's Law Committee, representative of the Nghe An delegation, speaks during the discussion in Group 3. Photo: Thanh Long

Discussing the above content, Representative Hoang Minh Hieu - Standing Member of the National Assembly's Law Committee, representing the Nghe An delegation - argued that for the confidence vote to be effective, information about those being evaluated is crucial. Based on this, the representative proposed that the draft Resolution include a provision assigning the National Assembly Standing Committee to compile information on the implementation of policy and lawmaking by those being evaluated, providing additional information to assist National Assembly representatives in their assessment.

Delegate Vo Thi Minh Sinh - Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province, speaks during the discussion. Photo: Thanh Long

Regarding the draft Resolution of the National Assembly on piloting some special mechanisms and policies for the development of Ho Chi Minh City, Representative Vo Thi Minh Sinh - Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province - strongly agrees with the issuance of a new resolution to replace Resolution No. 54/2017/QH14 of the National Assembly on piloting special mechanisms and policies for the development of Ho Chi Minh City, which was issued in 2017.

National Assembly delegates from Nghe An province at the discussion session in Group 3. Photo: Thanh Long

Considering that the issuance of a new Resolution on Ho Chi Minh City at this time is necessary and appropriate; any delay would result in missed opportunities for the city to develop in a manner worthy of its role, position, and responsibilities assigned by the Central Government, the delegate from Nghe An province suggested that the new policies for Ho Chi Minh City need to be groundbreaking, outstanding, substantial, and commensurate with its potential; ensuring feasibility and suitability to reality.

Furthermore, breakthrough mechanisms need to go hand in hand with capacity, management, operation, and control; ensuring transparency, widespread impact, and profound effects not only on Ho Chi Minh City, but also bringing positive effects to the region and the whole country; especially to provinces and cities with special mechanisms.

Delegates also argued that it is necessary to strengthen decentralization and delegation of power, accompanied by increased accountability; there needs to be a mechanism to enhance people's supervision; a mechanism to protect and encourage those who are enthusiastic, daring to think, daring to act, daring to innovate, and daring to take responsibility; regulations on strengthening supervision, inspection, and auditing of implementation should be added; especially the mechanism of people's supervision, with the Fatherland Front and political and social organizations playing a core role, according to the principle: "The Party leads, the State manages, the Fatherland Front and political and social organizations are the core, so that the people are masters."

Representative Vo Thi Minh Sinh also stated that: The conditions and rights of the people must be publicly and transparently disclosed; there should be specific regulations to increase public consensus and minimize complaints and lawsuits from the people.

Comrade Thai Thanh Quy - Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Nghe An province - chaired the discussion session in Group 3. Photo: Thanh Long

Concluding the group discussion session, delegate Thai Thanh Quy - Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation, and Chairman of the Provincial People's Council of Nghe An Province - summarized and emphasized further discussions on the draft Resolution on taking votes of confidence and no-confidence votes for those holding positions elected or approved by the National Assembly and People's Councils (amended); and the draft Resolution of the National Assembly on piloting some specific mechanisms and policies for the development of Ho Chi Minh City.