International press reports on the election in Vietnam

Many international news agencies today reported closely on the elections for the National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels in Vietnam.

Hanoi streets are filled with banners and posters about the election of the National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels. Photo: Reuters

Xinhua news agency said that more than 69 million Vietnamese voters nationwide will participate in voting to elect 500 deputies to the 14th National Assembly from 870 candidates.

"Local authorities have been instructed to closely monitor the situation, proactively inspect and resolve complex security issues. People in remote areas are allowed to vote earlier," the agency said. "The first session of the 14th National Assembly is scheduled to take place in July when state leaders will be re-elected."

India's largest private news agency IANS also reported that the National Assembly and People's Council elections in Vietnam officially began at 7 a.m. this morning at more than 91,400 polling stations nationwide and are expected to end at 7 p.m.

The agency said that according to the list of candidates announced by the National Election Council last month, 339 people are female, accounting for nearly 40%, and more than 200 people are ethnic minorities, accounting for more than 23%.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong votes at a polling station in Hanoi. Photo: Reuters

The election results will be announced within 20 days, IANS wrote, adding that in the final session of the 13th National Assembly, Vietnam elected new leaders to hold top positions in the country.

Reuters called today's election day Vietnam's 5-yearly democracy day. The British news agency described the streets as filled with banners, posters, and banners celebrating this event, along with images of hammers and sickles, farmers and soldiers, symbolic images of socialism. Loudspeakers on every street also loudly encouraged people to go to the polls.

People vote at a polling station in Hanoi this morning. Photo: Reuters

"This is our right to be proud. All Vietnamese people have the right and responsibility to vote and build the country," the agency quoted Mr. Nguyen Hanh Phuc, Chief of Office of the National Election Council of Vietnam, as saying.

Mr. Phuc affirmed that all 870 candidates were treated fairly, including those who were not party members and those who ran for office themselves.

According to vnexpress.net