View of the meeting, morning of February 15. Photo: Doan Tan/VNA

Innovating the organization and operation of local governments to suit urban and rural characteristics

However, many opinions are still concerned about the regulations on local government organization in administrative units in Article 2 of the draft Law.

Proposing to re-study the regulations in Article 2 on the organization of local government in administrative units in the direction of innovating the organization of local government in urban areas to promote development, delegate Tran Quoc Tuan (Tra Vinh) expressed that we are currently carrying out a revolution to streamline the apparatus to operate effectively and efficiently, but studying the content of the regulations in Clause 1, Article 2, the delegate felt "not really assured".

He explained that through Party Congresses, many policies, guidelines and directions of the Party have directed the need to innovate the organization and operation of local governments in accordance with the characteristics of urban areas and rural and island areas. Practice shows that after amending the Law on Organization of Local Government in 2019, localities such as Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong have been allowed by the National Assembly to implement urban government. Through assessment, these places have implemented and brought about good results.

“In the current conditions, we are implementing a revolution to streamline the organizational apparatus, so the local government organization needs to be carefully considered so that it can be redesigned to suit the characteristics of urban and rural areas. This is completely in accordance with the Constitution,” said delegate Tuan.

In order for the Law on Organization of Local Government (amended) to have a long life after its promulgation, the delegate suggested that the Drafting Committee should study that while we have not been able to innovate the organization of local government in rural areas, we need to strongly innovate the organization of local government in urban areas like the places that are effectively piloting. This will be the basis for effectively implementing the current revolution of streamlining the apparatus, creating a new driving force to accelerate the country's development.

Sharing the same view, delegate Ha Sy Dong (Quang Tri) said that Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City and now Hai Phong have been allowed by the National Assembly to implement one-level urban government and have shown very good results. In the current conditions, we are implementing a revolution to streamline the organizational apparatus, so the local government organization also needs to be redesigned, suitable to the characteristics of urban areas and rural areas. This is also not contrary to the Constitution.

Proposing to study, while the organization of local government in rural areas has not been innovated, it is necessary to strongly innovate the organization of local government in urban areas to promote economic development, this delegate also suggested considering revising clauses 2 and 3, Article 2 accordingly.

Strengthening control of power

Referring to the principles of organization and operation of local governments stipulated in Article 4, delegate Ha Sy Dong said that in the principles of organization and operation of local governments, there is no mention of decentralization, decentralization and the requirement to strengthen control of power over local governments when they are strongly decentralized. This principle needs to be added.

Clause 3, Article 4 should not stipulate "strengthening the autonomy and self-responsibility of local governments" as a slogan, but should be revised, the organization and operation of local governments must be "in accordance with the principle that local matters must be decided by the locality, implemented by the locality and responsible by the locality".

This delegate also suggested that the draft Law must explain what the term “Local governance” means in order to prescribe appropriate standards for the organization and operation of local governments. And in order for the organization and operation of local governments to be consistent with local governance, Clause 4, Article 4 should be revised to “Meet the requirements of modern, effective, efficient, public, transparent local governance and make full use of local resources”.

According to delegate Tran Quoc Tuan, the principles of organization and operation of local governments are extremely important. Because the Law has been designed according to the guiding thinking of the leadership of the Politburo and the Central Executive Committee of the Party, which is "locality knows, locality does, locality is responsible" and strongly decentralizes and delegates power to unleash resources for national development, if this content lacks effective and efficient institutions and mechanisms to control power when local governments are strongly decentralized and delegated, negative situations may occur, and even worse, the degeneration of state power at the local level.

This is an inevitable trend. Therefore, the delegate believes that it is necessary to add to Article 4 of the draft law the principle of strengthening control over power when it is decentralized, delegated, and authorized.

“The comprehensive revision of the Law on Organization of Local Government along with other laws and resolutions at this 9th Extraordinary Session will be an important milestone in the process of building Vietnamese laws. Hopefully, after the laws and resolutions are passed at this session, they will contribute to helping Vietnam soon achieve the goal of becoming a high-income developed country by 2045 as set out in the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress,” said delegate Tran Quoc Tuan.

According to baotintuc.vn