Deputy Trịnh Thanh Bình from Bến Tre Province speaks at the National Assembly yesterday. Deputies said that the Vietnamese government should reform to make sure orders are carried out more efficiently from the top down. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI (VNS) – Despite fruitful efforts to keep the country’s economy afloat for the last five years, the Vietnamese government should reform to make sure orders are carried out more efficiently from the top down, a National Assembly (NA) deputy said yesterday.

The incumbent cabinet - led by Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng, who will leave office after the April 6 National Assembly vote - managed to maintain an average GDP growth rate of 5.9 per cent for the last five years, curbing a low rate of inflation, as well as signing a number of free trade agreements including the historic Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).   

But unresolved matters still linger, deputy Trương Trọng Nghĩa of HCM City said yesterday during the last meeting session of the 13th NA which began March 21. He pointed out that serious corruption and rampant violations of law have undermined national strength. "These problems are the responsibility of the entire political system. But the Government must be blamed first," he added. 

The lawmaker stressed that voters want the new cabinet - which is expected to have its Prime Minister confirmed as soon as next week - to reform its steering methods. He also said that the PM should stringently punish or dismiss officials who commit violations or do not fulfill their tasks.

“The PM should make the bold move of removing even high officials, like ministers or provincial People’s Committees chairmen, if they fail to do their jobs,” Nghĩa said. “The government must put a stop to the fact that orders from the top are often ignored by lower officials."

Đỗ Văn Đương, a deputy from HCM City, also warned that Việt Nam’s political system should undergo serious assessment of whether state positions are being sold.

“There are public rumours that state positions can be traded. How can people buy such posts? That’s the question to which citizens have never received an answer,” he said.

If such a thing exists, it is hugely unfair to society. And it would also lead to corruption, as those who spend tonnes of money to buy political positions would in turn do everything possible to gain back the money thus spent.

“This may be a sensitive issue. Yet it should be investigated, for the sake of the country,” he said.

President’s work

President Trương Tấn Sang’s working report was also discussed by the NA. The NA considered judicial reform as one of the President’s outstanding successes during his 2011 – 2016 tenure. His advocacy of judicial reform has helped foster judicial pureness, strength, and democracy.

Nguyễn Anh Sơn, a deputy of Nam Định province, said the State leader - who is also the head of the steering committee for judicial reforms - has enhanced lawmaking reforms.

As regards the draft working report of the Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court, they offered feedback on the settlement of administrative violations and bailiff requests, capacity improvement of officials and cadres at People’s Courts at all levels – particularly the contingent of judges amid nationwide judicial reform, and solutions to delayed complaints.

After listening to the draft working report by the Chief Justice of the Việt Nam Supreme People’s Court, legislators debated the outcomes of exercising prosecution rights over criminal and corruption cases, the quality of arguments at courts, obstacles to managing judicial activities.

Recommendations to improve the efficiency of the people’s procuracy sector were also provided. – VNS