Can Members of the National Assembly Choose the Location to Attend the National Assembly Session during Online Meetings of the National Assembly?
Can citizens and press agencies attend and listen in on online sessions of the National Assembly?
Based on Article 8 of Resolution 31/2023/UBTVQH15:
Individuals invited to attend and listen in on National Assembly sessions held online
1. Individuals invited to attend and listen in on National Assembly sessions held online must follow the regulations set forth in the Internal Rules of the National Assembly Sessions.
2. Representatives of certain state agencies, political organizations, socio-political organizations, social organizations, people's armed forces units, and provincial and central city press agencies may be invited to attend public sessions of the National Assembly at points in the provinces and centrally governed cities as directed by the General Secretary of the National Assembly.
3. Invited individuals must comply with the regulations of the Internal Rules of the National Assembly Sessions and the conduct directed by the session chair and the person in charge of the point.
Thus, individuals invited to attend and listen in on National Assembly sessions held online must adhere to the regulations outlined in the Internal Rules of the National Assembly Sessions.
Specifically, based on Article 5 of the Internal Rules of the National Assembly Sessions issued together with Resolution 71/2022/QH15, the individuals invited to attend and listen in on National Assembly sessions include:
- The Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court, the Chief Procurator of the Supreme People's Procuracy, members of the Government of Vietnam, the General State Auditor, and heads of agencies established by the National Assembly who are not deputies, are invited to attend the National Assembly sessions.
- Domestic and international honorary guests decided by the Chairman of the National Assembly upon the recommendation of the General Secretary of the National Assembly.
- Representatives of state agencies, central agencies of political, socio-political, social, and economic organizations, people's armed forces units, and press agencies may be invited to attend public sessions of the National Assembly.
These individuals and organizations at provinces and centrally governed cities may be invited to attend public sessions of the National Assembly at points in those provinces and centrally governed cities as directed by the General Secretary of the National Assembly.
- Citizens may be allowed to listen in on public sessions of the National Assembly.
Can National Assembly deputies choose which points to attend during online sessions?
Which sessions of the National Assembly are not held online?
According to Article 14 of the Internal Rules of the National Assembly Sessions issued together with Resolution 71/2022/QH15:
Forms of conducting sessions and meetings of the National Assembly
1. The National Assembly conducts sessions in the form of direct meetings.
Based on actual conditions, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly decides on the organization of National Assembly sessions in the form of online meetings or a combination of direct and online meetings.
2. Closed sessions and sessions with secret ballots must be held in the form of direct meetings.
3. The Standing Committee of the National Assembly guides the form of online meetings and a combination of direct and online meetings.
Therefore, closed sessions and sessions with secret ballots must be held in the form of direct meetings. This means that such sessions cannot be held online.
Can National Assembly deputies choose which point to attend during online sessions?
Based on Clause 2, Article 6 of Resolution 31/2023/UBTVQH15:
Forms of organizing National Assembly sessions
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2. The online form is conducted through a video conferencing system between the main point in Hanoi and points in other provinces and centrally governed cities. The Standing Committee of the National Assembly decides the number of points, the provinces and centrally governed cities having points, the locations for points, and the delegations of deputies to attend sessions at each point.
Based on actual conditions, the General Secretary of the National Assembly—Head of the Office of the National Assembly advises the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on other methods of organizing online sessions.
Additionally, according to Article 7 of Resolution 31/2023/UBTVQH15:
National Assembly deputies attending sessions at online points
1. National Assembly deputies attend sessions at points as decided by the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, except for cases specified in Clauses 2 and 3 of this Article.
2. Deputies who work regularly in Hanoi attend sessions at the main point in Hanoi, except when the Standing Committee of the National Assembly decides otherwise.
3. During online sessions, deputies on duty who cannot attend sessions at points as decided by the Standing Committee of the National Assembly can attend at the point where they are on duty or the nearest point to their duty location. Deputies must register to change the session point with the General Secretary of the National Assembly to report to the Chairman of the National Assembly for a decision, and also report to the Head of the delegation of deputies at their working location and the Head of the delegation of deputies at the point they intend to attend, at least 2 days before the expected date of change.
The Standing Committee of the National Assembly has the responsibility to decide the number of points and the delegations participating in the sessions at each point. Therefore, National Assembly deputies attend sessions at points as decided by the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, except:
- Deputies who work regularly in Hanoi attend sessions at the main point in Hanoi, unless the Standing Committee of the National Assembly decides otherwise.
- During online sessions, deputies on duty who cannot attend sessions at points as decided by the Standing Committee of the National Assembly can attend at the point where they are on duty or the nearest point to their duty location.
Deputies must register to change the session point with the General Secretary of the National Assembly to report to the Chairman of the National Assembly for a decision, and also report to the Head of the delegation of deputies at their working location and the Head of the delegation of deputies at the intended point of attendance, at least 2 days before the expected date of change.
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