Hanoi (VNA) - Consultativeconferences have been held three times to select virtuous and talented candidatesrunning for seats in the National Assembly in a democratic fashion and in linewith existing regulations.

The Presidium of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee has completedthe organisation of the first and second consultative conferences. After thesecond, the list of candidates was publicised to collect voters’ opinions.
Evaluating the outcomes of the second consultative conference, Vice Presidentof the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Ngo Sach Thuc said alldelegates at the conference approved a preliminary list of 205 candidatesnominated by central agencies, organisations, and units.

Right after the second conference, the VFF Central Committee compiled adetailed report and sent it to competent authorities for consideration.

To date, most cities and provinces have finished the organisation of the secondconsultative conferences to draw up a list of candidates for the upcomingelections of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and People’s Councilsat all levels for the 2021-2026 tenure.
According to the VFF, as of March 17, the number of candidates nationwidetopped 1,161, equivalent to 2.3 times the number of deputies to be elected. Ofthe total, there were 77 self-nominated candidates in 24 cities and provincesnationwide, including 30 in Hanoi and 16 in Ho Chi Minh City.

Right after the second consultative conference, the VFF Committees inlocalities joined hands with relevant organisations to collect votes ofconfidence on candidates in their residential areas.

Thuc said the collection will be held in a democratic fashion and in accordancewith regulations on elections.

The third consultative conference will be organised before 5pm on April 19 toselect the official list of candidates for the election of NA deputies. It willbe chaired by the Presidium of the VFF Central Committee.

Meanwhile, the third conferences in cities and provinces will be held betweenApril 14 and 18.

According to Thuc, candidates for the election of deputies to the NationalAssembly and People’s Councils at all levels are chosen based on standards andregulations set in the Law on Election of Deputies to the National Assembly andPeople’s Councils, the Law on the Organisation of the National Assembly,Instruction No. 36 from the Party Central Committee’s Organisation Commission,and the Politburo’s Directive No. 45.
The VFF has compiled a plan to strictly supervise election tasks, he said,adding that election committees at all levels are responsible for receiving andanswering questions from voters.

If there are complaints and denunciations against candidates, they must besettled in line with existing regulations, Thuc said.

The elections of deputies to the 15th National Assembly andall-level People’s Councils for the 2021-2026 tenure are scheduled to takeplace on May 23.

Therewill be a total of 500 seats in the 15th National Assembly at both central andlocal levels, according to a new resolution adopted by the NA StandingCommittee.
The NA expects to have 207 deputies, or 41.1 percent of the total, representingcentral organisations, including agencies of the NA, the Party and thePresident as well as the Government and ministries.

The 293 others, or 58.6 percent, will represent local administrations.Sixty-three, or 12.6 percent, of the seats will be assumed by top leaders ofcentrally-run cities and provinces, such as Secretary and Vice Secretary of themunicipal/provincial Party Committees, Chairpersons of the People’s Councils andChairpersons of the People’s Committees.

According to the resolution, about 95 lawmakers (14 percent) will be members ofthe Party Central Committee, including 12 – 14 Politburo members.

Therewill be about 25 – 50 deputies who are non-Party members and 50 deputies under40 while ethnic minority people are expected to account for 18 percent of thenumber of official nominees.

The resolution also states that female deputies should account at least 35percent of the total official nominees./.