The 16th National Assembly election continues the democratic tradition of the country.

This morning, the National Election Council held a nationwide conference to disseminate the Politburo's directive and implement the election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and deputies to People's Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term.

In his address to the conference, General Secretary To Lam emphasized that the 16th National Assembly election, taking place on the 80th anniversary of the first general election, will continue the democratic tradition of the country, affirming the strength of national unity and leading the country to steady development in the new era.

"The success of the election will create an important starting point for building and consolidating the State apparatus for the new term, creating a solid political and social foundation for the successful implementation of the Resolution of the 14th National Congress of the Party. This is also an opportunity for us to affirm the leadership capacity of the Party, the effectiveness of the State's management, and the efficiency of the political system in the context of having just completed the streamlining of the organizational structure, merging administrative units, and reorganizing local governments according to the two-tier model," the General Secretary stated.

Therefore, the General Secretary affirmed that this election is identified as the central political task of 2026.

To ensure the election's success, the General Secretary emphasized the need for strong leadership.human resources- The most crucial stage of the election. The nomination of candidates must be conducted openly and transparently, listening to broad opinions from the grassroots, but must ensure strict adherence to personnel planning, the results of Party congresses at all levels, and closely follow the requirements for streamlining the political system's organizational structure and implementing a two-tiered local government model; ensuring continuity, interconnectedness, and innovation.

According to the General Secretary, the delegate structure needs to ensure harmonious representation among sectors, social classes, genders, age groups, and regions; with appropriate proportions of full-time delegates, female delegates, young delegates, delegates from ethnic minorities, intellectuals, workers, farmers, entrepreneurs, artists, religious dignitaries, etc.

"We strive to elect a sufficient number and structure of delegates, but the quality of delegates must be prioritized. National Assembly and People's Council delegates must truly be loyal representatives of the people, speaking the voice of the people, caring for the people's affairs, and protecting the legitimate rights of the people - directly the people in their polling areas," the General Secretary stated.

The General Secretary emphasized that it is necessary to select and nominate individuals who are truly outstanding in character and ability, possess strong political acumen, are loyal to the Fatherland and the People, have both virtue and talent, and meet all the criteria. Those nominated must have sufficient health and time to participate and fulfill their responsibilities well if elected.

The General Secretary also requested a thorough screening process, resolutely eliminating from the outset those who exhibit political opportunism, ambition for power, conservatism, factionalism, parochialism, and localism; individuals with low prestige, poor ethics, lack of honesty, or those showing signs of violations being investigated or inspected by relevant agencies...

At the same time, the General Secretary stated that it is necessary to assess the disciplinary actions taken against some National Assembly and People's Council deputies in the past, as well as the abuse of power and authority by some individuals, and violations of the law, in order to learn from these experiences and select and nominate personnel for the next term.

According to the General Secretary, this is an important requirement to maintain strict discipline and integrity among cadres, ensuring that the elected bodies in the next term truly consist of outstanding and honest representatives who place the interests of the nation, the people, and the country above all else.

The goal is to achieve the highest possible voter turnout, not just to get it over with.

AboutOrganize the consultation process for selecting and nominating candidates effectively.,The General Secretary urged the promotion of the people's right to self-governance throughout the election process. Party committees at all levels need to focus on leading and closely directing the organization of consultative conferences at all levels to compile lists of candidates for the National Assembly and People's Councils in accordance with the correct procedures.

The entire consultation process must be conducted democratically, objectively, openly, and transparently; strengthening inspection and supervision of implementation, and resolutely preventing negative phenomena such as unhealthy campaigning, "buying" candidacy slots, "buying" votes, or group interests that distort the meaning of the election.

The General Secretary proposedStrengthen propaganda and mobilization efforts.This creates an atmosphere of enthusiasm and consensus in society and enhances the awareness and responsibility of voters. "We must encourage all voters to voluntarily and actively participate in the election, striving to achieve the highest possible voter turnout rate, demonstrating a sense of responsibility towards the country, not just voting for the sake of it," the General Secretary said.

The General Secretary requested ensuring political security, social order and safety, and promptly addressing issues related to the election. All complaints and denunciations related to the election must be resolved promptly and in accordance with the law; resolutely combating and refuting all false, distorted, and provocative arguments that exploit the election for subversive purposes.

Finally, the General Secretary stated clearly:Enhance the application of information technology.and seamless coordination among agencies and organizations throughout the political system to successfully organize the election.

The General Secretary shared that there isn't much time left until the election (March 15, 2026), and the workload is enormous and the demands are very high. All levels and sectors must immediately begin action, working concretely, practically, and effectively, avoiding formality; clearly assigning responsibilities to specific individuals, tasks, and deadlines; and regularly monitoring, supervising, and resolving difficulties and obstacles.