Vietnamese to pick members of the Communist Party-controlled National Assembly
This Sunday, 73.5 million voters will be called to pick 500 representatives out of 864 candidates rigorously selected by the Communist Party of Vietnam. The vote is another key step after the Congress to consolidate Tô Lâm's leadership.
Milan (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Some 73.5 million Vietnamese voters will be called to the polls across the country next Sunday, 15 March, to elect the 16th National Assembly as well as local People's Councils for the 2026-2031 term.
Following the Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), held earlier this year, this is another key step in strengthening the political line established by Secretary General Tô Lâm, Hanoi's new strongman.
The vote also reflects a political system that remains rigidly dominated by one party, this despite significant economic progress, keeping a sometimes hard-nosed balance between China and its Western partners.
In Vietnam, voters elect members of the National Assembly, the body that passes laws, decides on major national policies, and oversees state institutions. However, the choice is based on candidates rigorously selected by the CPV.
All Vietnamese citizens aged 18 and over are eligible to vote, while those who wish to run must be at least 21.
The law also establishes representation targets: at least 18 per cent of candidates must belong to ethnic minorities, and at least 35 per cent must be women.
Some 864 candidates are running for 500 seats in the 2026-2031 legislature, including 392 women and approximately 190 members of ethnic minorities. About 65 candidates do not belong to the ruling party, but they still must go through three different stages of selection.
Each centrally governed province and city has at least three representatives, while other seats are allocated based on population. To be elected, a candidate must obtain at least 50 per cent of the vote in their constituency.
On the same day, voters will pick the members of their provincial and municipal People's Councils, which run local government and oversee the implementation of public policies.
Their numbers vary according to population: from 50 members in the smaller provinces to a maximum of 125 in large cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
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06/05/2022 13:35
