Former National Assembly Economic
and Budget Committee chairman Dang Van Thanh told Thoi bao Kinh te Viet Nam
(Vietnam Economic Times) that the National Assembly shouldn’t dictate every line
of the State budget.

Finance and
budgeting is a highly specialised business which NA deputies sometimes get out
of focus. How do we solve that problem?

In my opinion,
Assembly sessions should select and analyse only the crucial issues related to
finance strategies, budget estimates, spending and balance sheets.

The Assembly should
not discuss every issue without a definite aim. It should be sparing when it
comes to discussing small matters and those related to specific management.

It would be better to
allow the Government to allocate and manage the budget.

What would the
Government need to do to gain the Assembly’s support in allocating and managing
the budget once allowed?

The Government needs
to strengthen the transparency and confidentiality of information provided to
the Assembly on socio-economic development tasks and strategies, budget
orientation and appraisal reports on income and expenditure.

The Government would
be expected to strengthen the transparency of budget estimates and reflect more
accurately the national finance situation so that it is reliable and verifiable.

It is essential to
update not only socio-economic development, national economy and finance, the
Government also needs to systematically grasp policies with a view to analysing
and deciding on general issues and specific content of finance and the budget.

Information about
finance and budget must be comprehensive, containing information of the past and
present and could be based on to make forecasts for the future. Data banks,
multi-sided information are also needed to satisfy minimum foundations for
making appraisal reports and decision.

But the
Assembly can’t be passive in waiting for the Government to do the job. It needs
to bring its supervision role into play whereas the State audit seems to have
been weak in the past.

What is needed is a
body in charge of following up on audit results within the NA. The audit
inspects the legality, confidentiality and efficiency of budget revenue and
spending. State audit’s opinions must be a confidential foundation to help the
Assembly debate State budget issues. To do so, the State audit needs to be
objective, abide by the law and accurately reflect the truth.

Has the
National Assembly fulfilled its responsibilities in examining and making
decisions on the State budget and finance in the past years?

Considering and
deciding on the budget is a complicated task for the Assembly in its role of
regulating the macro-economy. The Assembly will be able to affirm its position,
enhance responsibility and consolidate trust with the people about its real
power once it can well implement the above-said task above well.

In my opinion, the
Assembly has concentrated its efforts and brain power to do the job.

VietNamNet/Viet
Nam News