VietNamNet Bridge – The National Assembly Standing Committee discussed amending the Constitution at a meeting on August 25.

National Assembly Vice Chair Uong Chu Luu wanted to amend the Constitution at the last NA session this year.

According to National Assembly Vice Chair Uong Chu Luu, if two-thirds of National Assembly deputies agree to amend the Constitution at the upcoming NA session in November, a specialized committee will be established to do so. The amended Constitution will be made public to collect the people’s opinion and be approved at the end of this session.

NA Vice Chair Tong Thi Phong suggested an extraordinary meeting later this year to discuss the amendment to Constitution.

Chief of the NA Committee for People’s Aspiration Tran The Vuong didn’t agree. He said the committee to amend the Constitution must be established one year earlier. The amended Constitution must obey the procedure of collecting opinions from the Politburo, central agencies and the people. A normal bill must follow this process, let alone the Constitution.

NA Vice Chair Nguyen Duc Kien rejected Uong Chu Luu’s proposal, saying that amendment may be considered in the NA session next March.

Luu explained that the NA doesn’t have any document stipulating amendment procedures for the Constitution. According to law, the Constitution will be amended with agreement by two-thirds of NA deputies.

NA Chair Nguyen Phu Trong observed that the NA would prepare for both: approving the amended Constitution in the next session, with some more days or organizing another session late this year to consider amending the Constitution.

Trong said that documents of the 11^th National Party Congress will be made public on September 15, one month earlier than planned.

PV