*** In its May 20 edition, Spain’s online newspaper Terra said voters expressed their hope that the new NA would continue to accelerate the economic reform that has helped Vietnam achieve the second highest economic growth rate in Asia after China.
It said that over the past years, the NA has no longer been a bureaucratic institution, but instead become a forum where deputies have strongly criticised corruption in the State apparatus.
According to Terra, the Vietnamese Government has been trying to build the image of a democratic country. Worthy of note were recent online exchanges between State President Nguyen Minh Triet and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung with the people.
*** The National Algerian Television (ENTV) featured the atmosphere of the Election Day at polling stations in Hanoi, particularly polling station No1 in Ba Dinh precinct where Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh cast his vote.
*** France 24 Television spent time running commentaries and images of the election and gave detailed descriptions of the atmosphere at polling stations adorned with the national flags of different sizes, colourful flowers, banners, and slogans. It detailed the atmosphere of the national festive day at polling station No1 where Party leader Nong Duc Manh fulfilled his duty.
*** Scottish daily The Scotsman ran an article saying Vietnamese voters cast their ballots on May 20 to elect 500 deputies to the National Assembly which plays the leading role in legal and economic reform in the Communist Party led country. It noted that among a total of 875 candidates, 150 are not Party members, and self-nominated candidates are introduced by their colleagues and neighbours.
This was the first NA election after Vietnam officially joined the World Trade Organisation in January 2007, the daily said.
*** Japan’s Kyodo News Agency and Japan Today news bulletin reported that Vietnamese voters went to the polls on May 20 to elect a new National Assembly for the next five years. More than 50 million eligible voters out of 84 million people will elect 500 deputies from a total of 875 candidates, including 150 non-Party members and 30 self-nominated candidates.
According to the Japan Today news bulletin, the final results will be made public in 7 to 10 days time.
Observers said that the Vietnamese National Assembly has made several changes in its function, becoming a forum for discussion, including the questioning of Cabinet members which is broadcast live on the national radio and TV system.
Add new comment