“People get tired even of good singers if they never stop singing. I want other deputies to have opportunities to present their views,” says economist and National Assembly deputy Tran Du Lich.
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Lich, vice chief of the HCM City delegation, is a media star. He is surrounded by journalists anywhere he appears. Here, Lich talks with VietNamNet about his work.
VietNamNet: In a number of roles – full-time congressman, advisor to the government’s Financial and Monetary Council, member of the Central Party Theory Council, head of the HCMC Institute of Economics – you’ve stamped your ‘brand.’ It’s said that you are able to ‘change the climate,’ leading deputies from disagreement to consensus. Is that true?
Dr. Tran Du Lich, 58, is a prominent and widely quoted economist. He has represented HCM City in the 10th National Assembly (1997-2002) and was re-elected to the current 12th National Assembly in 2007.
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Dr. Tran Du Lich: Actually, I don’t dare to say I can ‘change the climate’ but it’s true that others often are persuaded by my opinions. I use research tools to persuade other deputies to accept viewpoints that are well-grounded in theory and reality.
To convince others in the debate on the draft Law on Housing and Land Tax at the last session, I had to thoroughly understand the issues and present them confidently and convincingly, using practical examples.
If I present my views whole-heartedly, convinced I am right, I will be surely supported. For complicated issues, we can’t persuade others in a moment. Especially legal issues must be revisited from session to session.
It is important not to regard this process as ‘winning’ or ‘losing.’ When others don’t agree with you, you must reconsider your viewpoint and the issues to understand why they don’t agree with you.
VietNamNet: You have a number of roles. Do they overlap? Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed? How much time do you spend in your activities as a NA deputy?
Lich: These jobs don’t conflict. They reinforce each other. For example, when I talk about the country’s economic policies with economic groups, the opinions I hear are likely the opinions of constituents. When I teach graduate students, I can hear to the opinions of young intellectuals.
When constituents visit the office of a congressman, they don’t just complain and denounce. Many scientists and intellectuals came to my office to tell me their viewpoints about economics and the trend of our nation’s development.
I’ve never differentiated my role as a deputy from my other roles. All of my activities, teaching, research, making presentations, etc. directly or indirectly serve my job as a NA deputy.
VietNamNet: It is very common to see you surrounded by reporters on the sideline of NA sessions. Have you ever felt weary or upset by all this attention?
Lich: Most of the calls to my phone every day come from the media. It takes a lot of my time and sometimes I’m tired and angry. (Here Lich smiles). Sometimes I have to turn off the ringer so I can take a siesta. Some journalists only call to confirm that they’ve quoted me accurately in a story. I’d rather they do that than than write incorrectly.
Sometimes I deliberately hide from the press during the breaks at NA sessions.
VietNamNet: Why?
Lich: I don’t want to show up on newspapers too much. Here’s an analogy: even a very good singer can bore the audience if he sings unceasingly. I want other deputies to have opportunities to present their points of view and I’m very glad to see many new faces at the NA.
However, the press is the bridge between legislators and constituents so I always support the press. For example, last year the press reported that I joined the NA supervision group to investigate misuse of public land by state companies. After that the Prime Minister instructed the Finance Ministry and related bodies to investigate and deal with that situation. Or, when I spoke about the draft Law on Housing and Land Tax, the next day some newspapers reported about my opinion and I received dozens of phone calls and messages from constituents in support.
Yet another example: Once I questioned the Minister of Industry and Trade (aired live on TV) about some industries, like Vietnam’s electronics industry, that are ‘half alive, half dead.’ The next days many constituents who are businessmen told me that I expressed their concerns. I was very happy!
VietNamNet: Is it difficult to be a congressman? Are you satisfied with your current role?
Lich: Any job is both easy and difficult. The important thing is that one feels fully engaged. For myself, I am interested and fulfilled in the role of a full time deputy. With my knowledge and relationships, I’ve taken part in many activities at the NA. For example, I’m mainly a member of the NA’s Committee for Economics but I often join meetings of the NA’s Committees for Finance, for Foreign Relations, Social Issues, etc. At this moment, I’m satisfied with what I’ve done and what I’m doing.
VietNamNet: With three years of experience as a member of the legislature’s Standing Committee, what can you share with us?
Lich: I hope the role of NA deputies will be enhanced. At present, even Standing Committee members can only devote 30 percent of their time for this job, not 100 percent. They need to have staff support because no deputy is expert at everything.
Deputies working without expert staff help are like doctors trying to operate in a hospital without nurses.
Thai Phuong
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