National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man speaks. (Photo: Doan Tan/VNA)

On the morning of April 24, continuing the 44th Session, the National Assembly Standing Committee considered and decided on principles, criteria, and norms for allocating the regular expenditure estimates of the state budget in 2026.

Need to be evaluated comprehensively

Briefly presenting the report, Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang said that the development of principles, criteria, and norms for allocating regular state budget expenditure estimates aims to implement the policies of the Party and the State, including new policies directly related to the allocation of regular state budget expenditures such as restructuring the apparatus, exempting tuition fees, ensuring order, security, national defense, prioritizing the fields of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation, education and training, etc.

At the same time, this will be the basis for the Government to develop and submit to the National Assembly the state budget estimate and the central budget allocation plan for 2026; determine the percentage of revenue division and additional amounts from the central budget for each locality...

Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang presented a summary of the report. (Photo: Doan Tan/VNA)

Briefly presenting the review report, Chairman of the National Assembly's Economic and Financial Committee Phan Van Mai said that the majority of opinions suggested not considering and issuing the Resolution at this time.

Because, based on the actual situation, the document will be submitted to the competent authorities, the restructuring of the apparatus will have many changes after April 30.

When there are changes after the implementation of the arrangement of the apparatus and administrative boundaries, the application of norms in these localities is not just a matter of "mechanical" addition but needs to be evaluated comprehensively, linked to specific factors of natural conditions, management focal points and economic, political and social development needs in the area with new administrative boundaries...

In addition, some issues related to the principles, criteria, and norms for allocating regular expenditures in the draft Resolution being amended in the State Budget Law (the Government is planning to submit it to the National Assembly for consideration and approval at the 9th Session) have removed the 3-year financial-budgetary plan; the budget stabilization period, and the regulation rate.

Some new policies expected to be submitted to the National Assembly for approval at the 9th Session will affect criteria and norms for regular expenditures in localities. Regarding the scope of adjustment, the majority of opinions suggest that the application period of this Resolution is 4 years to ensure stability and initiative for localities in determining regular expenditures, avoiding the situation of annual construction without a plan.

Consider the timing of the resolution

Discussed at the meeting, opinions basically agreed with the allocation norms according to population criteria for the social security sector.

Regarding the additional criterion: "support for public protection facilities managed by localities" with the support level not increasing compared to the previous period, opinions said that it was unreasonable; it was suggested to consider adjusting it to a more reasonable level, suitable for practical conditions.

Regarding the allocation of expenditures for radio, television, and news agencies, opinions stated that coverage does not only depend on the population in the area, this is a political task, implemented nationwide, including sparsely populated areas. Therefore, opinions suggested researching, reviewing, and adjusting the criteria for the field of radio and television, possibly based on the assigned functions and tasks.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man speaks. (Photo: Doan Tan/VNA)

Considering that the Proposal is not yet qualified for the National Assembly Standing Committee to consider voting to pass the Resolution at this time, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man requested that the development of the Resolution's content must be based on the situation of arrangement and merger at the provincial and communal levels to set appropriate criteria.

If the National Assembly approves the project to merge provinces/cities, relevant agencies will consider the appropriate timing to pass this Resolution.

Further explaining, Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang said that submitting to the National Assembly Standing Committee at this time is in accordance with the State Budget Law.

If approved at this time, the Government will have time to submit to the National Assembly, assign tasks and targets, especially the State budget expenditure estimate for 2026.

Admitting that at this time there are some unforeseen issues and that if we step back, we will be able to more fully cover the arising contents directed by the Politburo, but the Minister of Finance proposed to issue the Resolution first and adjust the arising issues later.

Concluding the meeting, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Duc Hai requested the Government to update the situation, closely follow the amendment of relevant laws and resolutions passed during the 9th Session, absorb opinions to complete the draft Resolution and seek opinions from the National Assembly Standing Committee for promulgation after the 9th Session./.

According to vietnamplus.vn

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/chinh-tri-xa-hoi/theo-dong-thoi-su/chua-ban-hanh-nghi-quyet-phan-bo-du-toan-chi-thuong-xuyen-ngan-sach-nha-nuoc-152947.html