Vietnam’s National Assembly President Tran Thanh Man said special and emergency lawmaking mechanisms must remain exceptional, warning that routine use could undermine legal-system discipline and stability.
He spoke during a discussion of the draft Law on Legal Normative Documents and Resolution 206 at the second session of the 16th legislature on October 23.
Man called Resolution 206 unprecedented. It gave the Government a fast track to resolve bottlenecks that would take much longer under normal procedures.
A Government report said the mechanism enabled 26 resolutions in the past year, while 556 of 786 reported problems and recommendations had been addressed.
Five resolutions issued in 2026 reduced processing time by 53 per cent and compliance costs by 55 per cent. They are estimated to save citizens and businesses VNĐ23 trillion, or more than US$890 million, annually.
Man backed a one-time extension of documents issued under the mechanism until December 31, 2027. The Government must report regularly to the NA Standing Committee and remain accountable.
He said reforms should be measured by actual time and cost savings and public satisfaction, not only by the number of procedures cut or resolutions adopted. Provisions not tested long enough should not be hastily added to law.
The draft law and urgent decisions
Man supported streamlining the draft law but said speed must not reduce quality. Policy appraisal, impact assessment and expert consultation should remain where necessary. Any mechanism allowing the NA Standing Committee or Government to modify legal provisions must be tightly regulated and constitutional.
Justice Minister Hoang Thanh Tung said the proposed mechanism for urgent adjustments when the legislature could not convene would be a special, temporary delegation of legislative authority. Deputy Le Thi Thanh Lam called for post-promulgation assessment criteria and sanctions for officials who delay implementing regulations or issue unlawful documents causing losses to the State, citizens and businesses.
Sources: Viet Nam News
