Candidate preparations key to successful deputy election: official

Hanoi (VNA) – Candidate preparations are a key part of preparations for the National Assembly (NA) and People’s Council elections, slated for May 22, said NA Secretary General Nguyen Hanh Phuc.

Phuc, who is also the Chairman of the NA Office and a member of the National Election Council, said personnel preparations must ensure democracy and unified leadership by nominating eligible, politically firm candidates.

There should also be appropriate proportions of candidates representing different sectors, regions, ethnic groups and religions.

Meanwhile, the candidates must have sufficient capacity, keep in close contact with others, and respect public opinions. They need to have the determination to fight corruption and ensure the people’s benefits, he noted.

Voters nationwide should fulfill their duty in the upcoming election so as to select people with good morals and capacity to serve the NA, which is of paramount importance as Vietnam seeks to form a strong, efficient and effective parliament, he stressed.

Phuc added that the election of deputies to the 14th NA and all-level People’s Councils for the 2016-2021 term is also an occasion to continue consolidating and perfecting a socialist rule-of-law State of the people, by the people and for the people.

The official said the first general election, held in 1946, was held using a universal, equal, secret ballot. It was Vietnam’s first step toward democracy.

The election seven decades ago aimed to confirm the legality and democracy of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. The State was tasked with governing the country, organising the resistance war against the French, and handling Vietnam’s external relations.

The first NA encompassed deputies from the northern, central and southern regions, and from all social strata such as workers, farmers, businesspeople, intellectuals and ethnic groups, Phuc added.-VNA