National Assembly leader warns of accountability for lawmaking delays

Accountability tightened to keep legislative agenda on track

Opening the fourth session of the National Assembly Standing Committee on July 8, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called for stricter discipline in lawmaking, stressing that no draft laws or resolutions should be delayed, postponed or withdrawn due to subjective reasons.

He instructed all agencies to stay on schedule and complete preparations for the first extraordinary session of the 16th National Assembly, which is scheduled for early August.

According to the Chairman, delays in submitting legislative dossiers not only disrupt the lawmaking timetable but also affect the implementation of major policies and the Government’s socio-economic management.

Ministers, heads of drafting agencies and agencies responsible for reviewing draft legislation must be held accountable if they fail to ensure the required quality or timetable, he stressed.

For major policy issues that remain under discussion or involve proposals differing from existing legislation, relevant agencies were urged to coordinate closely with National Assembly agencies and promptly report to competent authorities instead of leaving unresolved matters until the final stages of each session.

The standing committee of the National Assembly’s Council for Ethnic Affairs and parliamentary committees were also instructed to conduct rigorous reviews of legislative dossiers and recommend postponing any bills that fail to meet quality or procedural requirements until later sessions if necessary.

Preventing legal gaps after new laws take effect

Another key message delivered by the National Assembly Chairman was the need to ensure that newly enacted laws can be implemented immediately.

He requested reviewing nearly one year of practical experience in operating the three-tier government system and carefully examining provisions on decentralisation and delegation of authority.

Legal provisions, he said, must clearly define responsibilities, authority and implementation mechanisms so that local governments can enforce them as soon as the laws come into force.

“We must ensure local authorities can implement the laws immediately without creating legal vacuums, overlapping regulations or shifting responsibilities,” the Chairman said.

He also noted that, as of June 30, numerous decrees and implementing regulations required to enforce newly adopted laws had yet to be issued.

The Council for Ethnic Affairs and parliamentary committees were asked to work directly with ministries and relevant agencies to identify the causes of delays and accelerate the issuance of guiding documents.

According to the top legislator, laws must be accompanied by implementing decrees and circulars if parliamentary decisions are to deliver practical benefits for citizens and businesses.

Twenty-four legislative proposals prepared for extraordinary session

The fourth session of the National Assembly Standing Committee is reviewing a broad legislative agenda in preparation for the first extraordinary session of the 16th National Assembly, while also considering items for the second regular session later this year.

The top legislator said convening the extraordinary session reflects the strong political commitment of the Party, the National Assembly and the Government to promptly institutionalise major Party decisions and address urgent issues affecting socio-economic development, national defense and security.

According to the proposed agenda, the Standing Committee will review 24 draft laws and resolutions for submission to the extraordinary session, two draft laws for the second regular session, approve 10 ordinances and resolutions within its authority, and discuss three additional matters.

The Government has also proposed adding amendments to the Law on Housing and the Law on Real Estate Business under an expedited legislative procedure for consideration during the extraordinary session.

The National Assembly Chairman instructed the Secretary General of the National Assembly, parliamentary agencies and vice chairpersons in charge to carefully review all legal procedures before including these bills in the session's agenda.

The fourth session of the National Assembly Standing Committee is scheduled to take place over six days in three phases from July 8 to 28, during which dozens of legislative and policy matters will be considered.

NA Chairman warns against last-minute lawmaking, calls for quality legislation

VOV.VN - National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man has urged ministries and agencies to improve the quality and timeliness of legal drafting, warning against a “last-minute” approach to lawmaking and delays in issuing implementation guidelines.