(VOVworld) – The Vietnam Bar Association convened a workshop on the Law on Referendum in Hanoi on Tuesday. Participants discussed the nature, content and requirements of referendum and Ho Chi Minh’s Thought and the views of the Communist Party of Vietnam on referendum. They also touched upon the various forms of democracy and referenda, the role of the National Assembly in any referendum, as well as the relations between elections, referendum and public opinion. Vice Chairman and Secretary General of the Vietnam Bar Association Le Minh Tam said: “Referendum appeared and developed along with democracy. A referendum is a process created by the people who are in charge of state power, implementing the law, and conducting social processes. A referendum is a direct form of democracy and a tool by which the people practice their rights. The right to a referendum is a mark of the political, legal and democratic culture.”

The participants agreed that the issuing of the Law on Referendum will update the legal framework and work towards an improved democracy.