VietNamNet Bridge – “There are no regulations to canvas through the Internet, but I personally think that it is possible to make online electoral campaigns if candidates tell the truth and don’t violate Vietnamese laws,” said Secretary General of the Election Council Pham Minh Tuyen on the sideline of the last consultation meeting on April 15.

 

Secretary General of the Election Council Pham Minh Tuyen
After the third (most recent) consultation meeting; what are candidates of the National Assembly election allowed to do to canvas?

 

From May 3-22, candidates have the right to make electoral campaigns under the law. They can meet constituents to speak out their responsibility to the National Assembly and constituents if they win the election.

 

Candidates are allowed to directly meet with constituents and talk about their thinking on local television channels. State agencies are responsible to organize meetings between candidates and constituents and provide necessary information.

 

National Assembly candidates have a different social status and economic conditions. How can we ensure the equality in electoral campaigns?

 

The Fatherland Front Central Committee has issued instructions on canvassing activities to ensure the equality among candidates. For example, the maximum number of meetings with constituents in a voting precinct. Meetings between candidates and constituents are fundamentally organized by the state to ensure the most convenient conditions for candidates.

 

What do you think about forms of canvassing, like materially assisting people in the remote or isolated areas or canvassing through social networks and blogs?

 

The law doesn’t ban candidates from making electoral campaigns by different forms. If candidates are businesspeople and they are able to do charity activities, I think the state encourages them to do so. Not only candidates of the National Assembly election, but also every citizen are encouraged to do charity by their legal income.

 

There are no regulations on canvassing through the Internet, but I personally think that it is possible to make online electoral campaigns if candidates tell the truth and don’t violate Vietnamese laws.

 

The Vietnam Fatherland Front has approved 182 candidates nominated by central bodies to run for the 13th National Assembly. The candidates will be given 15 days from May 3-18 to campaign for public votes through voter’s conferences.

 

The National Assembly election will take place on May 22 2010. This will be the first time people will be casting their votes for the National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels on the same day.

 

The Constitution of Vietnam recognizes the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam as "the highest organ of state power." The National Assembly, a 493-member unicameral body elected to a five-year term, meets twice a year. The assembly appoints the President, the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court of Vietnam, the Head of the Supreme People's Procuracy of Vietnam, and the 21-member Cabinet.

 

The National Assembly is the highest government organization and the highest-level representative body of the people. It has the power to draw up, adopt, and amend the constitution and to make and amend laws. It also has the responsibility to legislate and implement state plans and budgets. Through its constitution-making powers it defines its own role and the roles of the Vietnamese State President, the Vietnamese Government, the local people's councils and people's committees, the Supreme People's Court, and the Supreme People's Procuracy. The assembly can elect and remove members of the Council of Ministers, the chief justice of the Supreme People's Court, and the procurator general of the People's Supreme Organ of Control. Finally, it has the power to initiate or conclude wars and to assume other duties and powers it deems necessary. The term of each session of the National Assembly is five years, and meetings are convened twice a year, or more frequently if called for by the Council of State.

 

 

PV