National Assembly Chairman: Complete constitutional amendments before June 30, 2025

On the morning of April 16, the Politburo and Secretariat held a national conference to disseminate and implement the Resolution of the 11th Conference of the 13th Party Central Committee.

At the conference, Comrade Tran Thanh Man - Politburo member, Chairman of the National Assembly delivered a presentation on the topic "On amending the Constitution and laws; directions for the election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term".

Complete amendments to the Constitution and laws and resolutions before June 30, 2025

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man affirmed that the laws and resolutions passed at the 9th Extraordinary Session of the 15th National Assembly related to the reorganization of the state apparatus and the promotion of socio-economic development, ensuring national defense, security and foreign affairs have been effectively serving the revolution of reorganization and streamlining the apparatus of the political system, promptly removing difficulties and institutional obstacles, creating breakthroughs for development, promoting resources, creating new development space for localities and the whole country, in accordance with the Party's policies and resolutions.

Implementing Resolution No. 60-NQ/TW dated April 12, 2025 of the 11th Conference of the 13th Party Central Committee, including merging provincial-level administrative units, not organizing district-level, merging commune-level and building a 2-level local government organization model; arranging socio-political organizations, mass organizations assigned by the Party and State into the Vietnam Fatherland Front... opening up a new situation for national development in a new era with a long-term vision.

To meet the above requirements, the scope of this amendment and supplement to the Constitution focuses on two groups of contents.

One is, the provisions of the 2013 Constitution related to the Vietnam Fatherland Front, socio-political organizations (concentrated in Articles 9 and 10), to meet the requirements of arranging and streamlining the organizational apparatus, promoting the role, responsibility, and proactiveness of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the role of gathering classes and strata, strongly oriented towards residential areas, close to the people, to each household.

Second,provisions in Chapter 9 of the 2013 Constitution to implement the two-level local government organization model.

Because the scope of this amendment and supplement to the Constitution is limited, expected to only involve about 8/120 articles of the 2013 Constitution, the National Assembly Standing Committee will submit to the National Assembly the form of a document as a Resolution of the National Assembly (similar to what was done in the amendments and supplements to the Constitution in 1988, 1989 and 2001).

According to National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, agencies and organizations within their scope of authority and areas of responsibility have reviewed and compiled a list of legal documents affected by the amendment and supplementation of the Constitution.

Specifically, according to the Government's Report, there are about 19,220 documents issued by the Central and local levels with content directly affected by the implementation of the policy of continuing to reorganize the apparatus of the political system, including 1,180 documents from the Central level and 18,040 from localities.

Amendments to the Constitution and relevant laws and resolutions must be completed before June 30, 2025 and take effect from July 1, 2025.

In particular, it stipulates transitional provisions to complete the consolidation and reorganization of the apparatus and commune-level administrative units officially come into operation no later than August 15, 2025, and provincial-level administrative units officially come into operation no later than September 15, 2025. There are specific instructions to ensure smooth, uninterrupted operations, in accordance with the roadmap and implementation plan.

On April 15, 2025, the National Assembly Standing Committee issued Resolution No. 76 on the arrangement of administrative units in 2025, ensuring a reduction of 60% to 70% of the total number of commune-level administrative units nationwide and agreed on the content of submitting to the National Assembly for consideration the amendment and supplementation of a number of articles of the 2013 Constitution.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man paid special attention to the dissemination work in agencies, units, localities, organizations, propaganda, and widespread mobilization among the entire population, orienting public opinion, ensuring solidarity, consensus, high unity, and determination to implement among cadres, party members, and people of all walks of life.

Expected to have 500 National Assembly delegates

Regarding the direction of the election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man said that the election is expected to be held earlier than the previous election to create synchronization with Party committees at all levels and promptly implement the resolution of the 14th Party Congress.

The election day for the 16th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term is expected to be Sunday, March 15, 2026, and the first session of the National Assembly will be held on April 6, 2026. Therefore, agencies, units, and localities must proactively prepare early, remotely, right now.

Regarding the number of National Assembly deputies, it is expected to be 500 deputies, of which the proportion of full-time National Assembly deputies is at least 40%. The general orientation on the structure is: Young deputies (under 40 years old) about 10%; re-elected deputies about 30%; female deputies at least 35%, and deputies from ethnic minorities at least 18% of the total number of people on the official list of candidates for National Assembly deputies.

The number of People's Council delegates is based on the population size of each administrative unit; implemented according to the provisions of the Law on Organization of Local Government.

Regarding the criteria for delegates, it is basically the same as the previous election, however, there is a new point: priority is given to people with qualifications in science and technology and people with basic training in law.

As of March 2026, they must be old enough to have served a full term, male (March 1969), female (September 1972) or later. Re-election must have at least 36 months left, male (March 1967), female (May 1971) or later. In particular, they must thoroughly understand the request of General Secretary To Lam at the closing session of the 11th Central Conference: the highest standard must be based on job requirements, then other criteria.

The requirements for the election work are: Having a specific leadership and direction plan to successfully organize the election. Provincial and municipal Party Committees establish Steering Committees to comprehensively lead the election work, directly directing from the provincial level down to the communal level. Good leadership of personnel work, ensuring the promotion of democracy and the Party's centralized and unified leadership in personnel work.

There are solutions to direct the election of sufficient numbers of National Assembly deputies and People's Council deputies at all levels, with special attention paid to the quality of deputies, while ensuring a reasonable structure. Focus on good leadership and direction in organizing consultations to introduce candidates for National Assembly deputies and People's Council deputies at all levels.

Directing well the propaganda work, widely disseminating the content, requirements, and significance of the election; the provisions of the Law on Election of National Assembly Deputies and People's Council Deputies. Directing closely the work of ensuring political security and social order and safety; promptly and legally resolving citizens' complaints and denunciations.

The National Assembly Party Committee, the Government Party Committee, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Party Committee, the Central Party Committees, the National Election Council, Party committees and organizations at all levels will issue specific plans for implementation and guidance.

"The National Assembly will continue to strongly innovate, improve the quality and efficiency of its operations, and demonstrate the highest sense of responsibility before the Party Central Committee, the Politburo, the Secretariat, voters and the People. The National Assembly Party Committee will lead and direct the full implementation of Resolution No. 60-NQ/TW dated April 12, 2025 of the 11th Conference of the 13th Party Central Committee; closely, substantially and regularly coordinate with the Government Party Committee; thoroughly disseminate to the Ethnic Council, the National Assembly Committees, the Party Groups of the National Assembly delegations so that the 9th Session of the 15th National Assembly will be a great success," said National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man.