At the ninth session of the 12^th National Assembly, some argued that the deputies were not fully capable of living up to people’s aspirations. Do you think so?

Every deputy has to do the utmost to fulfill their tasks. For those who hold other positions they even make greater efforts.

There has been an increase in the number of professional deputies since the 11^th NA. However, they have not been given favourable conditions to bring into full play their roles. They need to have necessary facilities and professional skills.

Those deputies who hold many positions at the same time find it difficult to get updated on the implementation of major projects and the spending of the state budget.

In addition, the NA’s work schedule remains to be time-consuming. For instance, it’s not necessary for deputies to sit long at the hall to make contributions to draft laws. Instead, ideas can be gathered and summed up by delegations to reduce the time for such discussions so that deputies can have much time studying documents carefully instead of sitting for hours in the hall.

In addition, there are some deputies who just come to deliver speeches without any due respect to the audience.

What about the results of the 12^th NA?

I think the NA fulfilled many tasks entrusted by voters. They endorsed many significant laws, which are of higher quality and closer to people’s daily life. They also made regular contacts with voters to gather their opinions.

In the past tenure, the NA saw many exciting activities that drew attention from voters across the country. In order to fully reflect and meet people’s aspirations the deputies actively engaged in discussions of important measures to push up socio-economic developments in the country.

NA Deputy Nguyen Huu Nhi

Anyway, some issues remain to be addressed in connection with the promulgation of laws in the form of ‘framework’ laws, which require decrees from the government. For instance, the draft Law on Land, which is of great concern to people, has not been finalized and submitted to the National Assembly for consideration.

Another issue is follow-up supervision, which needs accelerating. We must put sanctions in place for relevant agencies to perform their duties.

Are you satisfied with the NA and government’s answers to people’s queries that you raised at the NA?

In the 12^th NA, I made some proposals on policies regarding agriculture and the ranks of communal cadres, which caught the government’s attention, but not as much as we expected.

Anyway, many government decisions responded to people’s aspirations.

Why did the 12^th NA not approve some projects submitted by the government?

This confirmed the practice of democracy within the NA and the Party and the wise judgement of NA deputies as well.

The NA discussed thoroughly and then rejected the high-speed railway project, which would cost the country a great amount of money once implemented. The Law on the Capital was also considered impractical.

I think the government would rather prepare everything carefully and consul people before making any important decisions.

What are your hopes pinned on the deputies being chosen for the next NA?

I do hope this time voters will select the right candidates that have good morality, vision and talent to fulfil the tasks of representing people and building a law-governed state of people, by people and for people.