Agreement to establish the position of Secretary General of the National Assembly

According to the explanation from the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, the Secretary-General of the National Assembly is the head of the National Assembly Office but does not necessarily have to be a member of the National Assembly. This is a new position to conform with international practice and the new tasks of the National Assembly.

National Assembly representative Bui Manh Hung from Binh Phuoc province speaks during the discussion session. Photo: VNA.

On the morning of October 22nd, the National Assembly held a plenary discussion in the Assembly Hall on the draft Law on the Organization of the National Assembly (amended). Many delegates agreed with the provision establishing the position of Secretary General of the National Assembly as stipulated in the draft Law.

According to the explanation from the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, this is a new title to conform with international practice and the new tasks of the National Assembly.

Based on an assessment of the current session's Secretariat's activities and drawing on international experience in organizing parliamentary activities, the draft Law has been revised to stipulate that the position of Secretary-General is the Head of the National Assembly Office, elected, appointed, and dismissed by the National Assembly. It also stipulates that the National Assembly Office is an administrative, comprehensive, advisory, and service agency for the National Assembly, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, and the Committees of the National Assembly.

Representative Tran Ngoc Vinh (Hai Phong City) agreed with the regulation establishing the position of Secretary General of the National Assembly, head of the National Assembly Office, but argued that it is not necessary for the person to be a National Assembly representative. According to Mr. Tran Ngoc Vinh, anyone who meets the necessary conditions can be elected by the National Assembly to perform the prescribed functions and duties.

Agreeing with this viewpoint, delegate To Van Tam (Kon Tum province) argued that establishing the position of Secretary-General is necessary to meet the requirements of the National Assembly's tasks, but the powers and duties of the Secretary-General need to be more specifically defined. Delegate Tam also suggested that the National Assembly consider adding the position of Deputy Secretary-General of the National Assembly to assist the Secretary-General, especially in performing duties when the Secretary-General is ill or absent from work. However, it is also necessary to clarify the role, position, responsibilities, and powers of the Secretary-General of the National Assembly and the role of the National Assembly Office as an administrative or advisory body in the performance of its duties.

Representative Le Dac Lam (Binh Dinh) raised the issue: The Secretary General of the National Assembly should not necessarily be chosen from among the National Assembly representatives and should also serve for a fixed term, in order to create flexibility in selecting candidates for this position.

According to the report of the National Assembly Standing Committee, many delegates agreed with the regulations on the standards for National Assembly delegates, but there were also suggestions to add regulations on the responsibilities, powers, and independence of delegates, and to limit the bureaucratization of delegates' activities.

Representative Bui Manh Hung (Binh Phuoc province) suggested that the roles, duties, and powers of National Assembly representatives need to be more clearly defined, especially in lawmaking.

Agreeing with Representative Hung, Representatives Nguyen Tien Sinh (Hoa Binh province) and Nguyen Thanh Son (Nam Dinh province) expressed their views: It is necessary to clearly define the standards for National Assembly representatives; the standards and quality of representatives must be strictly regulated, selecting truly outstanding, exemplary, capable, intelligent individuals with good influence and prestige among the people to be elected to the National Assembly in order to reflect and fulfill the will and aspirations of the voters. At the same time, they proposed increasing the number of full-time National Assembly representatives to 50%.

Representative Nguyen Huu Duc (Dong Thap) suggested that the drafting committee should include regulations on full-time representatives, especially at the local level, to specify the role and responsibilities of full-time representatives in performing their duties.

According to Chinhphu.vn