Procedure for negotiating and introducing candidates

On the morning of November 15, at the National Conference to disseminate the Politburo's Directive and deploy the election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term, Party Central Committee member, Vice President - General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Nguyen Thi Thu Ha presented the process of consultation steps to select and introduce candidates for National Assembly deputies, candidates for People's Council deputies and the organization of conferences to collect voters' opinions.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man , Chairman of the National Election Council delivered the opening speech at the Conference. Photo: Doan Tan/VNA

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Ha affirmed that this is a very important content in the process of implementing the election work to ensure democracy and consultation in selecting qualified people to run for the National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels.

The above contents have been shown in Resolution 101/2025/UBTVQH15 guiding the organization of voters' conferences, introducing candidates for People's Council deputies at the commune level in villages and residential groups dated September 26, 2025 of the National Assembly Standing Committee and Joint Resolution 102/2025/NQLT-UBTVQH15-CP-DCTUBTWMTQVN guiding the process of consultation and introduction of candidates for the 16th National Assembly and People's Council deputies at all levels for the 2026-2031 term dated September 26, 2025 issued by the National Assembly Standing Committee, the Government and the Presidium of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front .

The Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front also issued Circular No. 04, Circular No. 05 dated November 4, 2025 and other relevant documents. The Office of the National Election Council has sent documents and contents of the Conference to localities, along with a schedule for the implementation of election work.

Carefully prepare conditions for the three consultation conferences to take place on schedule.

Clarifying some basic contents with 3 major issues, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Ha stated: First, about organizing consultative conferences.

The consultative conference will be held three times. The first consultative conference at each level will be held from December 1-10, 2025. The second consultative conference will be held from February 2-3, 2026. The third consultative conference will be held from February 9-20, 2026.

The consultation time was adjusted earlier than the previous election terms to ensure consistency with the election date of March 15, 2026. In particular, it should be noted that the time for the second consultation conference will be only 2 days (from February 2-3, 2026), the time for the third consultation conference will coincide with the traditional Tet holiday of the nation (from December 22, 2025 to January 4, 2026 of the lunar calendar); therefore, the central and local election organizations, the Vietnam Fatherland Front at all levels and agencies, organizations and units must coordinate closely, proactively prepare conditions to ensure that the conferences take place on schedule and in accordance with regulations, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Ha noted.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, between the consultative conferences, there are adjustments to the structure and composition at the Central level (with National Assembly deputies at the Central level, there are adjustments between the first, second, and third conferences and the National Assembly Standing Committee adjusts the structure); at the local level, after the first consultative conference, the Standing Committee of the People's Council will adjust the structure. This is stipulated in Article 51 of the Election Law.

Regarding the chairing of consultative conferences, the Central consultative conference for candidates for National Assembly deputies is convened and chaired by the Presidium of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front. The local consultative conference for candidates for National Assembly deputies is convened, chaired and implemented by the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee at the provincial level. The consultative conference for candidates for People's Council deputies at each level is convened, chaired and implemented by the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee at the same level.

For the consultative conference to introduce candidates for National Assembly deputies, the Central consultative conference consists of the Presidium of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, representatives of the leadership of member organizations of the Front and invited delegates representing the National Election Council, the National Assembly Standing Committee and the Government.

The consultative conference in the component province/city includes the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, representatives of the leadership of member organizations of the Vietnam Fatherland Front at the same level and representatives of the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee at the commune level. Representatives of the Election Committee, the Standing Committee of the People's Council and the People's Committee at the same level are invited to attend.

For the consultation conference to introduce candidates for People's Council deputies at all levels, the composition includes: Standing Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, representatives of the leadership of member organizations of the Front and invited delegates. Representatives of the Election Committee, Standing Committee of People's Council, People's Committee at the same level are invited to attend.

Ensure the required balance

Emphasizing some new points, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Ha said: In this National Assembly election, the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee at all levels compared to the previous term has been structured, composed, and numbered differently from the previous term and is implemented according to Regulation No. 301-QD/TW dated June 9, 2025 of the Secretariat on the functions, tasks, and organizational structure of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee at the provincial and communal levels.

For member organizations of the Fatherland Front at provincial and communal levels, the Standing Committees of the Vietnam Fatherland Front at all levels must base on the charter of the Fatherland Front to review and determine member organizations of their level after arrangement and merger, ensuring completeness and compliance with regulations.

Comrade Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, member of the Party Central Committee, Vice President and General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, presented the process of steps in consultation, selection and introduction of candidates for National Assembly deputies and People's Council deputies, and the organization of conferences to collect voters' opinions. Photo: Doan Tan/VNA

The Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front will have a document directing this issue - Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Ha informed and said that for the representatives of the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee at the commune level attending the consultation conference in the province or city, it must include representatives of all communes, wards and special zones in the province or city.

Regarding the number of candidates, all three consultation conferences must ensure the necessary number of candidates; in which, at the third consultation conference, the list of candidates for National Assembly deputies must ensure that the number of candidates for National Assembly deputies is greater than the prescribed number. Specifically: "The number of people on the list of candidates for National Assembly deputies in each constituency must be at least two people greater than the number of elected deputies specified for that constituency" (Clause 6, Article 57 of the Law on Election of National Assembly Deputies and People's Council Deputies); the list of candidates for People's Council deputies - "if a constituency elects three deputies, the number of people on the candidate list must be at least two people greater than the number of elected deputies; if a constituency elects four or more deputies, the number of people on the candidate list must be at least three people greater than the number of elected deputies" (Clause 3, Article 58 of the Law on Election of National Assembly Deputies and People's Council Deputies).

Organizing conferences to introduce candidates at agencies, organizations, units and conferences to gather opinions and trust from voters at the place of residence.

Instructions for organizing conferences to collect opinions, comments and trust from voters at the place of residence

The second key content to note is the organization of conferences to introduce candidates at agencies, organizations, units and conferences to gather opinions and trust from voters at the place of residence.

First is the Conference to introduce candidates at agencies, organizations and units (organized between the first and second consultation conferences), from December 17, 2025 to January 25, 2026.

Accordingly, the organization process is as follows: Organize a meeting of the leadership of the agency, organization, or unit to propose candidates for the National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels.

The leadership of the agency, organization, or public service unit; the unit commander (for the people's armed forces) presides over and discusses the proposed people of the agency, organization, or unit to be introduced to the National Assembly and People's Council delegates.

According to Vice President - General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, the new point this time is that the composition of the Board of Directors of agencies, organizations and units is determined according to the regulations and charters on organization and operation of the agencies, organizations and units. In case the regulations and charters do not clearly define the composition of the Board of Directors, the head of the agency, organization or unit shall base on the regulations on the organizational structure of the agency, organization or unit to determine the composition of the Board of Directors.

The next step is to organize a conference of voters at the workplace.

The authority to preside over and convene a conference of voters at the workplace is the authority of the Executive Board of the organizing agency. The organization of this conference includes both candidates and self-nominated candidates: For state agencies, political organizations, socio-political organizations, and social organizations, the "Executive Board of the agency or organization" convenes and presides over a conference to collect voters' opinions at the workplace for candidates for National Assembly deputies and People's Council deputies (including both nominated candidates and self-nominated candidates).

For candidates working at public service units and economic organizations where there is no trade union, the consultation of voters at the workplace is convened and chaired by the Board of Directors of the unit or organization; where there is a trade union, the head of the unit or organization coordinates with the Executive Board of the Trade Union to convene and chair the conference.

"In case the head of an agency, organization or unit is a candidate for National Assembly or People's Council deputy, the deputy head of the agency, organization or unit shall coordinate with the Executive Committee of the trade union (if any) to convene and chair the conference" - Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Ha noted.

The form of organizing the conference also has a new point compared to before, which is that the conference must be organized in person; only in cases of force majeure due to natural disasters or epidemics, when it is not possible to organize it in person, can the conference be organized online or a ballot be issued according to the regulations of the competent authority.

The next step is to organize an expanded leadership conference of agencies, organizations, and units to discuss and introduce candidates for the National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels.

Depending on the type of organization, the composition of the expanded Executive Board conference includes the Executive Board of the agency or organization representing the leadership of affiliated units and a number of other components clearly specified in Resolution No. 101 and Resolution No. 102.

Regarding the organization of the Conference of voters at the place of residence (organized between the second and third consultation conferences), Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Ha said that the Conference will be held from February 4-8, 2026.

The Standing Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee at the commune level coordinates with the People's Committee at the same level to convene and chair the conference. The organization of the conference of voters at the place of residence is held in the village or residential group.

Regarding the number of voters, for places with less than 100 voters, a general conference of voters shall be organized to collect opinions on candidates for National Assembly deputies and People's Council deputies and must ensure that the number of voters attending the conference reaches at least 50% of the total number of voters summoned. For places with 100 voters or more, a general conference or a conference of voters representing households may be organized and must ensure that at least 55 voters attend the conference.

During this time, the verification and response to the cases raised by voters regarding candidates for National Assembly deputies and People's Council deputies at all levels must be completed by February 8, 2026 at the latest.

The conference to collect voters' opinions at the place of residence is an important conference, this is the premise for reporting the results at the third consultation conference. Specifically, the Presidium of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front for the Central Consultation Conference and the Standing Committee of the Provincial Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front for the provincial consultative conference report on the situation and results of the organization, collect comments on the trust of voters at the workplace and place of residence for the candidates, clearly stating the cases that need to be considered due to the cases raised by voters and the list of people expected to be nominated as candidates for the National Assembly. In case the candidate does not reach more than 50% of the total number of voters attending the conference of voters at the place of residence, he/she will not be included in the list of nominees at the third consultation conference. In special cases, it is necessary to clearly report for the consultation conference to consider and decide - Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Ha emphasized.

Some issues to note in implementation

According to Vice President - General Secretary Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, from the experience of previous elections, the Vietnam Fatherland Front system at all levels needs to grasp the guiding documents firmly and follow them closely to implement them carefully and firmly. There is a lot of work, going through many stages, many processes, and stages, closely related to each other, so it is necessary to develop a plan, schedule, and implementation content in great detail, setting out the work to be completed each day and each week.

Along with that, it is necessary to strengthen coordination between central and local election organizations, agencies, organizations, units with the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committees at all levels in organizing consultation conferences, candidate introduction conferences, and voter conferences so that the implementation is smooth, unified, and ensures compliance with regulations and election progress.

In recent times, the Vietnam Fatherland Front has implemented many digital transformation solutions in consultation work as well as election work. Up to now, the Front has completed a number of contents such as: Building a specialized election page on the "Digital Front" portal; building software to receive 24/7 opinions of voters, people and the Fatherland Front system at all levels related to the election; building software to connect and share information with the National election system; building an electronic handbook to guide the election work.

The Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front has developed guidelines for election work in the Vietnam Fatherland Front system and will organize a training conference and related documents immediately after this Conference. However, the Central's guidance cannot cover all specific situations arising from each locality and base. Therefore, localities should be proactive and closely follow the situation. The Vietnam Fatherland Front has assigned a standing unit, ready to receive information and answer local questions related to the election work of the Vietnam Fatherland Front.

In addition to the above basic content, Resolution 101, Joint Resolution No. 102 and related documents also provide detailed instructions on the organization of Conferences, results and minutes of each Conference; consultation and introduction of candidates in the case of by-election of National Assembly deputies and People's Council deputies; forms in the attached appendix... to facilitate the implementation process - Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Ha clearly stated.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/quy-trinh-cac-buoc-hiep-thuong-gioi-thieu-nguoi-ung-cu-20251115120852147.htm