On the morning of 28/9, General Secretary and President To Lam chaired a meeting of the Standing Board of the Central Steering Committee on Institutional Improvement and Law Enforcement.
At the meeting, the Party Committee of the National Assembly and the Party Committee of the Government were tasked with completing a comprehensive review report. They will also propose solutions to legal obstacles for submission to the Steering Committee at the next session.
The General Secretary and President requested that each recommendation clearly identify the inadequate regulation, its impact, the cause, and the proposed solution. He stated, "If the regulation is problematic, amend it; if enforcement is weak, rectify it".
The review needs to prioritize issues currently hindering investment, business production, state apparatus operations, and citizens' rights. Obstacles involving multiple sectors must be addressed synchronously. This approach avoids a situation where "each agency amends a part, but the work remains stalled".
According to the General Secretary and President, lawmaking and enforcement form a unified whole. Results should be measured by tangible improvements: bottlenecks removed, compliance costs reduced, resources unlocked, legitimate rights and interests of citizens and businesses ensured, socioeconomic development achieved, and national competitiveness enhanced.
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General Secretary and President To Lam speaking at the meeting of the Standing Board of the Central Steering Committee on Institutional Improvement and Law Enforcement, on the morning of 28/9. *Photo: TTXVN*
Laws must be stable yet flexible enough to meet evolving demands.
The Standing Board of the Steering Committee also provided feedback on the Project for a Strategy to Improve Vietnam's Legal System in the New Era. The board agreed on an approach to legal improvement within the overall institutional development ecosystem.
The goal by 2030 is to fundamentally address the weak enforcement of laws. This includes definitively resolving the delay and backlog of detailed guiding documents. It also aims to complete major tasks related to legislative orientation and the review of the 2013 Constitution.
By 2045, Vietnam aims for a modern legal system operating on digital data and artificial intelligence platforms. This vision also includes a democratic, integrity-driven, professional judiciary.
The Standing Board of the Steering Committee largely agreed on three breakthroughs: legal drafting and enforcement mindset, legal enforcement organization, and legal human resources.
The General Secretary and President emphasized that laws must be stable enough for citizens and businesses to confidently invest and anticipate their rights and obligations. Concurrently, they must be flexible enough to meet development demands, international integration, scientific and technological advancements, new business models, climate change, and practical issues.
He stated, "The shift from pre-inspection to post-inspection must be based on standards, data, risk management, and accountability".
Each policy must also clearly define the implementer, resources, conditions, and desired outcomes. The delay and backlog of detailed guiding documents must be rectified; administrative documents must not impose additional conditions or obligations.
According to the General Secretary and President, a culture of compliance must begin with the exemplary conduct of public authorities, officials, and Party members. Agencies need to rectify harassment, arbitrariness, and evasion. They must also protect those who act correctly, fairly address violations, and support citizens in using the law to protect their rights.
The focus shifts from detecting violations for penalties to preventing them.
Regarding the mechanism for administrative violation handling, the General Secretary and President believes the highest goal is to ensure better adherence to laws and reduce violations. This also includes maintaining order, discipline, and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of citizens and businesses.
The focus needs to shift from detecting violations for penalties to risk management, violation prevention, guidance, and enhancing legal compliance.
The civil dispute resolution mechanism also needs to reduce costs and shorten timelines while ensuring fairness and objectivity. The Civil Procedure Code and the Law on Commercial Arbitration need to be amended and supplemented soon. Concurrently, research should be conducted to develop a Law on Commercial Mediation.
Regarding the amendment and supplementation of the 2015 Penal Code and the 2015 Law on Organization of Criminal Investigation Agencies, the General Secretary and President requested full institutionalization of policies on criminal justice, crime prevention, and anti-corruption. This ensures human rights, citizens' rights, and addresses practical enforcement shortcomings.
Amending the laws also needs to create mechanisms that encourage and protect dynamic, creative officials who dare to think, act, and take responsibility for the common good. This also ensures the synchronicity of the legal system.
Vu Tuan
