The Vietnamese National Assembly made headlines on February 19, 2025, by passing significant resolutions aimed at restructuring the government's organizational apparatus. This decision came during the Assembly's exceptional ninth session, where astonishingly, 456 out of 459 members supported the new directives, showcasing a solid bipartisan commitment to optimizing governance.
The resolution outlines concrete strategies for enhancing the functionality of government agencies, distinctively focusing on reinforcing the role of inspection over the conventional auditing process. According to Hoàng Thanh Tùng, Chairman of the Law and Justice Committee, the restructuring emphasizes the continuation of inspection duties by agencies post-reorganization, eliminating redundancy and fostering improved accountability.
"Cơ quan thanh tra sau khi sắp xếp tổ chức bộ máy Nhà nước tiếp tục thực hiện chức năng, nhiệm vụ thanh tra của cơ quan đã chuyển giao chức năng, nhiệm vụ thanh tra," Tùng declared, underlining the intention to equip organizations to maintain operational continuity without interruption.
The revised framework also delineates clear roles for heads of various ministries. Tùng noted, "Trường hợp cuộc thanh tra đang tiến hành hoặc đã kết thúc thanh tra trực tiếp nhưng chưa ban hành kết luận thanh tra thì đoàn thanh tra tiếp tục thực hiện nhiệm vụ, xây dựng dự thảo kết luận thanh tra trình Thủ trưởng cơ quan có chức năng thanh tra sau khi sắp xếp tổ chức bộ máy nhà nước xem xét, ban hành kết luận thanh tra." Essentially, this means existing inspection efforts will not be abandoned mid-process but will instead seamlessly transition to the newly configured apparatus.
A significant point outlined was the timeline for resolving the number of deputy positions within government units; explicitly, organizations are expected to readjust following the regulations within five years of the restructuring decision becoming effective. The rationale for this phase-out is grounded in previous observations indicating a tendency for the number of deputies to exceed prescribed limits particularly during mergers or consolidations.
During discussions leading to this vote, there was divergence among Assembly members on how best to oversee these transitions. Some proposals suggested leaving the regulations governing deputy positions entirely to the government’s discretion, which sparked debate on ensuring consistent accountability to the electorate.
Overall, the restructuring aim is to solidify the function and clarity of roles among government machinery, enhancing operational efficiency and minimizing overlap or inefficiencies. The strategic decisions made on February 19 reflect not just procedural changes but also signify broader political and institutional intent to react strategically to the demands of governance, ensuring citizens’ rights and involvement are upheld throughout the restructuring process.
With the approved measures now set for implementation, there’s cautious optimism among observers about the potential for enhanced functionality of the Vietnamese government. This marks not just another reform but possibly the beginning of more substantial changes aimed at aligning state functions with the dynamic needs of the public.