The revised Law on Local Administration is under review by the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, with the proposal to disband People’s Councils (HĐND) in urban communes attracting significant attention. This is an important reform aimed at enhancing the efficiency of local management and governance.
Significance of Local Governance Reform
According to Minister of Interior Phạm Thị Thanh Trà, the amendment aims to strengthen decentralization between central government agencies and localities, making the administrative structure more streamlined, efficient, and effective. This ensures the consistency and smooth operation of the state administration from the central level down to the grassroots.
Model of Urban Local Governance
The draft law stipulates the expanded application of the urban administration model in districts of major cities like Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Hai Phong to all districts under centrally-administered cities. For urban administrative units, the draft proposes a full local governance structure including both People’s Councils and People’s Committees at the city level. However, in urban wards, towns, and communes, the government suggests only establishing People’s Committees without People’s Councils.
Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyễn Khắc Định emphasized that this is an important project to institutionalize the Party’s policy on administrative reform. The proposal not to establish People’s Councils in urban communes is new and requires consultation with the Politburo due to the lack of specific guidelines.
Evaluations from National Assembly Deputies
Chairman of the National Ethnic Minority Council Y Thanh Hà Niê Kđăm believes that not forming People’s Councils at the ward and district levels will reduce intermediaries and enhance effectiveness. However, he also suggested thorough scrutiny and clarification of the political and legal basis, as well as policy impact assessments.
Chairman of the Committee for Legal Affairs Hoàng Thanh Tùng supports the proposal, citing practical experience from previous pilot programs at the district and ward levels. He stressed that this is a breakthrough to promote modern management methods aligned with current trends.
National Assembly Chairman provides feedback
Chairman of the National Assembly Trần Thanh Mẫn provides feedback on the revised Law on Local Administration.
Chairman of the National Assembly Trần Thanh Mẫn requested a clear assessment of the pros and cons of abolishing People’s Councils in urban communes. He emphasized the need for comprehensive explanations to convince the public, as these councils are elected by the people.
Conclusion and Next Steps
Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyễn Khắc Định concluded that each option should be analyzed thoroughly regarding its strengths, weaknesses, political foundations, and practical implications before submitting to the Politburo for consideration. The revised Law on Local Administration consists of 7 chapters and 59 articles, reducing 84 articles compared to the existing law, and is expected to be passed during the 9th extraordinary session of the 15th National Assembly.
This reform process promises to bring positive changes in local management and governance, contributing to sustainable national development.
Source: Dan Tri
