National Assembly lawmakers yesterday envisaged increased responsibilities for the Prime Minister as they discussed long overdue changes to the draft Law on the Organisation of the Government, which has not been updated for more than 12 years.

A meeting of the NA Standing Committee.

Minister of Home Affairs Nguyen Thai Binh said the Law on the Government Organisation was passed in 2001 and many of the premises in the document were found to be outdated, including the legal status, functions and tasks of the Government and the Prime Minister.

The draft Law proposes that the Prime Minister has the authority to appoint and dismiss the head and deputy heads of all organisations under the Government.

The Prime Minister would also have temporary powers in case the chairpersons of provincial or municipal People's Committees have not been appointed.

The Prime Minister would also have the right to instruct the heads of provincial and municipal administrations to remove or put on probation the chairpersons and deputy chairpersons of People's Committees at lower levels in case they violate the law or fail to execute tasks assigned by higher authorities.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung proposed further clarification of the role of the Government, its responsibilities to protect and enforce the Constitution, and its relationship with the President.

VNS/VNN