National Assembly member Nguyen Van Pha told VietNamNet reporters that it is difficult for deputies to carry out their responsibilities as legislators if they also hold down other positions.
 |
VietNamNet: As one of the three deputies who are members of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, what are your advantages in comparison with other deputies?
Nguyen Van Pha: According to the Law on the Issuance of Legal Documents, the Fatherland Front (VFF) is required to comment on every bill that touches on to the rights and duties of the people, the organization of state agencies, or the rights and the responsibility of the Fatherland Front Central Committee. This requirement creates opportunities for me, as a VFF official, to meet and understand the people’s aspirations. That is the first advantage.
The second advantage is that the Fatherland Front Central Committee has eight advisory councils, which gather leading experts and scholars. They participate in criticizing and commenting bills. I attend all discussions of experts and it is very useful for me.
VietNamNet: You are very busy in Hanoi. Have you visited your constituents in Quang Binh often?
Pha: By law, I’m required to visit my constituency four times a year. I try to arrange my schedule to go there that often, but last year, I missed two opportunities because I went abroad on business and because I was busy organizing the 7th Congress of the Fatherland Front.
We deputies are also expected to attend the two four day sessions of the People’s Council (provincial or city legislature) in their constituencies but I’ve not taken part in these meetings because I’ve been so busy. I know that many other NA deputies also find it impossible to participate in these provincial People’s Council meetings.
Nguyen Van Pha was born in Ha Nam, a northern province, in 1961 and lives in Cau Giay district, Hanoi. Pha was a member of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee when he was elected as a Deputy from Quang Binh, a relatively poor province on Vietnam’s central coast. Pha is concurrently the vice chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee’s Office and a member of the National Assembly’s Committee for Laws.
|
I think this demonstrates how difficult it is for NA deputies who wear two hats – that is, to serve concurrently as legislators and as members of the executive body. Certainly, the two roles support each other but that value is considerably less than the costs when a deputy can’t give full attention to either job. I favor increasing support to increase the number of deputies who are paid to work full-time.
I’ve visited some countries, mainly developed countries, and I see each Deputy has his own office and staff. This doesn’t exist in Vietnam. Deputies are also honored abroad, for example there are statues of outstanding deputies at the corridors of the Parliaments in Japan or Canada. I think this is meaningful. It may a little costly but it makes deputies feel proud and honored, encouraging them to work harder.
VietNamNet: What are the major concerns of your constituents in Quang Binh?
Pha: The Quang Binh people are very kind and good-natured. Their life is still difficult but they always trust in the Party and State leadership. They don’t complain and raise difficulties for deputies.
They regularly propose that the State pay more attention to helping provinces like Quang Binh, which was especially ravaged by the American war and which is often hit by natural calamities. A second concern is social welfare support for the people who participated in the war.
I have talked about these issues at many meetings and received positive feedback.
However, I have a “complex.” My predecessor as a Quang Binh deputy, the former Minister of Transportation Dao Dinh Binh, achieved a remarkable contribution to the province’s facilities. I’m an official of the Vietnam Fatherland Front so I can only listen to the people’s opinions and report them to the NA and the Government; I haven’t the opportunity to make material contributions to the province.
I think I’ve not yet learned to use all my strengths to fulfill the role of a Deputy.
VietNamNet: What are your plans and expectations from now to the end of the term?
Pha: For the Vietnam Fatherland Front, I will participate in compiling big bills like the Law on Election of NA Deputies, the Law on Election of People’s Councils, the Law on the NA Organisation and the Law on Organisation of the Cabinet.
I think if I can do this well, I will partly fulfil the mission of a Deputy and a representative of the Vietnam Fatherland Front.
Joining drafting groups, I will show and defend my viewpoints in two ways: as a VFF representative and as a member of the NA’s Committee for Laws.
At the end of the term, the Fatherland Front joins with the NA Standing Committee to evaluate NA deputies and suggest which deputies ought to be renominated for another term. The election law assigns the VFF the huge responsibility of consulting on and nominating candidates for election as deputies. It’s the VFF Presidium, of which I’m a member, that does this job. We will surely not nominate deputies who haven’t spoken a word at the 12th NA sessions.
Cao Nhat
Related articles:
“Our constituents expect us to work for them”< />
Insider view of National Assembly
“Endeavour to be independent voice”
Constituents want more than a candid answer from the PM
Top lawyer, also a legislator, plays key role in drafting bills
Return congress woman battling for ethnic minorities
‘The people need to hear some new voices’
Related news:
- Constituents want more than a candid answer from the PM
- No one has the right to influence NA deputies
- “Our constituents expect us to work for them”
- Woman carrying imaginary 25kg foetus
- Russian capsule carrying Canadian space tourist leaves ISS
