National Election Council: Withdrawal of candidates done objectively

Nguyen Thi Thanh, head of the NA Standing Committee’s Board for Deputy Affairs and member of the National Election Council (NEC), speaks at the press conference. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) - The withdrawal of candidates running for seats in the 15th National Assembly hasbeen carried out in an objective, fair, and responsible manner and in line withregulations, Nguyen Thi Thanh, head of the NA Standing Committee’s Board forDeputy Affairs and member of the National Election Council (NEC), told a pressconference on May 21.

The NEC earlier announcedthe withdrawal of two candidates: Nguyen The Anh, Commander of Kien Giangprovince’s Border Guard Command, and Nguyen Quang Tuan, Director of Hanoi-based BachMai Hospital.

The council issueda resolution on the withdrawals, which were due to health and personal reasons,said Thanh, who is also deputy head of the Party Central Committee’sOrganisation Commission and deputy head of the NEC’s Personnel Sub-committee.

The officialnumber of candidates now stands at 866, running for 500 seats in the 15th NA. Of these, 393 are women, 185 belong to ethnic minority groups, and 74 arenon-Party members. Nine are self-nominated.

To prevent “proxyvoting”, Thanh urged media agencies to continue with communications work on therights and obligations of citizens in voting, especially in remote areas.

The VietnamFatherland Front and its member organisations should also play a role in thisregard, she added./.

VNA