National Election Council convenes fourth session

This is also the first gathering of the council since it was revamped during the freshly-concluded 11th meeting of the 13th National Assembly.

At the working session, the council approved a resolution on task assignment among its members, which was made on the basis of the recent personnel overhaul reached at the 11th meeting.

It also heard a report on preparations for the election of deputies to the 14th NA and People’s Councils at all levels for 2016-2021.

The report said that between March 22-April 12, the Standing Boards of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) in 115 communes in conjunction with the communal People’s Committees collected feedback from voters in residential areas on the 197 candidates who are running for seats in the 14th legislature.

During the period, the NEC also coordinated with the NA Standing Committee to dispatch six working groups to inspect preparations for the election in 16 centrally-run cities and provinces.

Delegates at the event heard another report presented by the VFF Central Committee on preparations for the third consultative conference and discussed the establishment of more working groups to supervise the election work in localities.

In her remarks, Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, who is also NA Chairwoman, said the third consultative round is scheduled for April 14, urging the VFF committees at the grass-roots level to closely join hands with local Party Committees to fulfill all set tasks.

Regarding the official list of candidates, to be decided at the conference, the top legislator underscored the need to ensure the ratios of female and ethnic minority representatives are in accordance with the law on the election of deputies to the NA and People’s Councils. It is a must to ensure equality for the candidates, she stressed.

At the session, the chief legislator expressed her approval for the plan of the VFF Central Committee and the Female NA Deputies Group to partner with the National Committee for the Advancement of Women and relevant State agencies to organise training courses for female and ethnic minority candidates.

Apart from the communication work, more attention should be paid to ensuring security, social order and safety for the election, she said.