Reforming meetings with voters to improve NA performance

Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong meets voters in Tay Ho district, Hanoi

According to the law, NA deputies are the representatives of the voters’ will and aspirations. They need to build a close bond with the voters and respect their opinions and recommendations to the National Assembly and relevant state agencies. Meetings between voters and National Assembly deputies were conducted in various ways including large conferences and meetings with individuals and small groups of voters.

More voters participate in meetings with NA deputies

Recently, most meetings with National Assembly deputies have been held in communes, wards, and townships rather than district headquarters. The meetings have attracted a large numbers of voters, about 200 on average, who represent other local people. The meetings discussed law building, environmental protection, economic development, poverty reduction, rural development, job counseling, and vocational training for rural workers.

Maximum receptivity, detailed accountability

At the meetings, many voters’ concerns including poverty reduction, new rural development, and personnel work were immediately addressed by National Assembly deputies and local authorities. 

Deputies’ responses were highly praised by voters. Deputy Head of Hanoi’s full-time National Assembly delegation Ngo Duy Hien says that to improve the effectiveness of their meetings with voters, his delegation has invited leaders of the Municipal People’s Committee, departments, and sectors and has urged the Fatherland Front to invite voters of all social strata. The Hanoi delegation has organized thematic conferences with voters to discuss law programs that will be discussed at National Assembly meetings.

Do Duy Thuong, former Vice President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, says that in addition to meeting with voters before and after National Assembly meetings, holding thematic conferences with voters has proved effective.

Bui Nguyen Suy, Deputy Head of the People’s Aspiration Commission of the National Assembly Standing Committee, says that in order to improve the quality of meetings between voters and deputies, it is necessary to issue a resolution involving the National Assembly Standing Committee, the government and the Vietnam Fatherland Front’s Presidium. 

“We need regulations on meeting with voters before and after the NA sessions, thematic meetings, meeting with groups of voters in residential areas, and meeting with voters at workplaces. By organizing meetings in different places and localities, deputies can acquire more opinions from voters”, said Mr Suy. 

Voters’ opinions are an important channel of information to help National Assembly deputies fulfill their tasks. So improving meetings with voters will also help improve the performance of NA deputies and the National Assembly as a whole.