Nguyễn Thị Thanh, Head of the National Assembly Standing Committee’s Board for Deputy Affairs and member of the National Election Council. — VNA/VNS Photo

The National Election Council (NEC) late last month announced the official list of 868 candidates who will run for 500 seats in the 15th National Assembly. However, since then, some candidates were dismissed as candidates. Nguyễn Thị Thanh, Head of the National Assembly Standing Committee’s Board for Deputy Affairs and member of the National Election Council speaks to the Vietnam News Agency about the dismissal

What should be done if a candidate, after being included on the official list of candidates, does not want to run for a National Assembly seat?

To select qualified deputies to the 15th National Assembly, candidacy dossiers on National Assembly candidates were received, considered and examined carefully since the dossiers were submitted to election agencies until the National Election Council certify and announce the results of the election of deputies to the National Assembly nationwide and certify the status of elected National Assembly deputies.

Under the Law on Election of Deputies to National Assembly and People’s Councils, the National Election Council can decide the number of candidates in a constituency in case of force majeure. So, if force majeure occurs to a candidate for NA deputy election, the province-level election commission can propose the dismissal of the candidate to the National Election Council.

During the 14th National Assembly, the National Election Council did not certify the status of two elected National Assembly deputies – Trịnh Xuân Thanh and Nguyễn Thị Nguyệt Hường for their violations. The dismissals presented the council’s determination in removing unqualified candidates/deputies out of the National Assembly – the highest level of the legislature in Việt Nam.

As a result, the 14th National Assembly did not have enough deputies as required. We accepted the shortage rather than the presence of unqualified deputies. 

When some candidates are removed from the announced list of candidates, will the number of deputies for the 15th National Assembly be affected?

Thanks to experience from previous elections, this year’s personnel work received a lot of attention from election agencies and other organisations. At meetings between candidates and voters, people and voters appreciated the candidates to be deputies of the 15th National Assembly.

Responding to the withdrawal or dismissal of some candidates, the National Election Council adjusted the number of candidates so the number of elected deputies in all constituencies would be ensured. Therefore, there will be no impacts on the number of deputies in the 15th National Assembly.

How does the National Election Council respond to the withdrawal of candidate Nguyễn Thế Anh – Commander of Kiên Giang Province’s Border Guard Command?

The candidate reported the reasons for his withdrawal from the run for NA deputy included his health problems. According to Law on Election of Deputies to National Assembly and People’s Councils and Law on the Organisation of National Assembly, one of the requirements for NA deputy candidacy is to have sufficient health to fulfil a deputy’s tasks.

After receiving a proposal from Kiên Giang Province’s Election Commission, the National Election Council accepted the withdrawal. Agencies changed the number of candidates in two out of three constituencies in Kiên Giang so that the province would still have enough deputies representing its voters in the 15th National Assembly. — VNS