Electing prestigious delegates worthy of the voters' voice

On August 29, in Hanoi, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) held a Conference on Commentary on the draft Resolution of the National Assembly Standing Committee detailing and guiding the organization of voter conferences; introducing candidates for People's Council delegates at the commune level in villages and residential groups; consulting and introducing candidates, National Assembly delegates, People's Council delegates in additional elections; Resolution on the Joint Decision guiding the process of consulting and introducing candidates for National Assembly delegates of the 16th term, People's Council delegates at all levels for the 2026-2031 term.

Attending and chairing the conference were Mr. Hoang Cong Thuy - Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; Mr. Dang Ngoc Huy, Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly's Delegation Affairs Committee.

Speaking at the Conference, Vice Chairman Hoang Cong Thuy emphasized that in order to promptly complete the draft Resolution dossier to submit to the National Assembly Standing Committee for comments in mid-September 2025, the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee held a Conference with the National Assembly's Delegation Affairs Committee and relevant agencies to agree on a number of contents.

Accordingly, regarding the Resolution of the National Assembly Standing Committee detailing instructions on organizing voter conferences; introducing candidates for People's Council delegates at the commune level in villages and residential groups; consulting, introducing candidates for delegates, making a list of candidates for National Assembly delegates and People's Council delegates in additional elections, Vice Chairman Hoang Cong Thuy stated that regarding the authority to convene and chair public conference conferences, the basic opinions agreed with the Resolution Draft, however, there were opinions that the authority to convene and collect opinions on the candidate who is the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the National Assembly, which was convene and chaired by the National Assembly Office Steering Committee as in the Draft, which was not appropriate. Therefore, it should be regulated in the direction of determining the place of collecting voters' opinions at the workplace of the National Assembly candidate, which is the Chairman of the National Assembly and Vice Chairman of the National Assembly, as decided by the National Assembly Standing Committee.

According to Vice Chairman Hoang Cong Thuy, the majority of opinions said that in order to overcome difficulties in determining the Board of Directors of agencies and organizations, the draft Resolution in Point g, Clause 2, Article 1 stipulates that "The members of the Board of Directors of agencies, organizations, and units are determined in the Regulations on the organization and operation of agencies, organizations, and units of the person expected to be nominated for nomination; in case the Regulations on organization and operation are not determined, it is appropriate to base on the organization of the agency, unit, the Head of the agency, organization, or unit determines the members of the Board of Directors". However, there are opinions suggesting clarifying the criteria for determining the "Leadership Board" and specific references to the legal basis of the Regulations on the organization and operation of agencies and organizations to avoid problems when applied, especially to organizations and units with specific structures.

Regarding the form of organizing voter conferences at workplaces and at residence, Vice Chairman Hoang Cong Thuy said that opinions agreed to add the form of organizing online conferences or sending votes to collect opinions to voters, however, some opinions said that it is necessary to have more specific and detailed regulations on the issuance of votes, counting of valid votes, invalid votes and confidentiality of candidate information. At the same time, there are opinions suggesting banning filming, taking photos, and livestreaming at conferences to collect voters' opinions at workplaces and residences. Regarding this issue, the Standing Committee believes that the distribution and counting of ballots is carried out according to the general law on elections. Some regulations on other specific procedures are specified in the form.

According to Vice Chairman Hoang Cong Thuy, the majority of opinions agreed to keep the regulation on the number of voters in workplaces and residence places. However, there are opinions that it is necessary to adjust the regulations on the number of voters in the place of residence for candidates for National Assembly deputies, People's Council deputies, and the number of voters at the Conference of voters introducing people from the village and residential groups to run for People's Council deputies at the commune level to comply with the recent policy of merging residential areas. Regarding this opinion, the Standing Committee has a clear view in the draft Proposal.

Regarding the Joint Resolution of the National Assembly Standing Committee, the Government and the Presidium of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front guiding the process of consultation and introduction of candidates for National Assembly deputies for the 16th term, People's Council delegates at all levels for the 2026 - 2031 term, Vice Chairman Hoang Cong Thuy said that there were consensus on the necessity to adjust the timelines for implementing the consultation process and introducing candidates to ensure consistency with the timelines prescribed in the Law on Election of National Assembly deputies and People's Council delegates and the election date was set as March 15, 2026. However, there are also opinions that the time to organize trade conferences is quite short, faster than the requirements for personnel preparation, so there should be a backup plan for special cases.

Regarding the structure and method of determining the members of the leadership board of agencies, organizations, and units: the majority of opinions agreed with the draft; some opinions said that there should be clearer and more specific regulations to facilitate the implementation process. Therefore, the Standing Committee has adjusted and supplemented the draft principle of determining the Board of Directors of the agency, organization, and unit under the meeting to prepare for the introducer.

Regarding regulations related to the balance of candidates: the majority of opinions expressed agreement with the draft; in addition, there were opinions that it is necessary to stipulate the specific balance of candidates in the Joint Resolution to serve as a basis for the Vietnam Fatherland Front and agencies and organizations at all levels to implement, ensuring sufficient balances according to the provisions of the Law on Election of National Assembly and People's Council delegates.

At the Conference, delegates focused on discussing, clarifying, and giving consensus on the contents of the two Resolutions. The majority of delegates expressed their agreement with the regulations on the participants in the meeting introducing people of agencies, organizations, and candidates for National Assembly and People's Councils in the draft. In addition, some opinions suggest that more clear and detailed regulations should be provided to ensure smooth implementation.