The National Assembly convened a plenary session on the morning of November 5 in Hanoi to continue discussing draft amendments to the 1992 Constitution.

A report summing up the group debate on the issue on previous days showed the majority of deputies support the stipulation on the position and leading role of the Communist Party of Vietnam as said in Article 4 of the draft revised constitution.

Many deputies also said they agree to keep intact Article 10 on the trade union organisation and other stipulations on trade union’s involvement in inspecting and monitoring the operation of State agencies, organisations and enterprises, which are also mentioned in previous Constitutions.

Also in the morning session, the deputies continued to give their opinions on several important contents in the draft revised constitution, including human rights, essential rights and obligations of citizens, the National Assembly, the National Election Council and the State Audit Office among others.

The session, which was broadcast live on national radio and television, attracted interest from voters nationwide.

Lawyer Dang Thi Ngoc Hanh, deputy chair of the Thua Thien Hue Bar Association, said she basically agrees with the structure, wording and content of the draft document. She said it has clarified the role and nature of the State, adding that there were some repetitions in Article 4 on the Communist Party of Vietnam that should be corrected.

Former Chairman of the Thanh Hoa provincial chapter of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Ha Van Thuong was of the opinion that more attention should be paid to the role of the front and socio-political organisations to promote democracy, particularly in direct democracy.

Voter Le Van Minh, former head of the Planning Office under the HCM City Department of Fisheries, said this alternative draft contains many new and progressive contents that better suit reality.

On November 6, lawmakers will scrutinise the revised Land Law, and hear a report on amending the Laws on Construction, Environmental Protection, Marriage and Family and the Law on amendments and supplements to some articles of the Law on Health Insurance.-VNA