National Assembly candidates who are ethnic minorities are 'shouldering' many structures?

Resolution No. 1135 of the Standing Committee of the 13th National Assembly sets a target of striving to achieve 18% of ethnic minority people elected as National Assembly deputies out of the total number of National Assembly deputies.

Pao throwing festival of Mong people on holidays and New Year. Photo: Document

In many recent election terms, the proportion of ethnic minorities participating in the State apparatus and political organizations representing the people has achieved some achievements, generally increasing in both quantity and quality. From 10.2% (term I), to term XII it was 17.7%, term XIII it was 15.6%, term XIV it was 17.3%.

However, in reality, over the past 14 terms, the number of ethnic minority representatives has not reached 18% of the total number of National Assembly representatives. The highest rate was only 17.7% (term XII).

Ethnic minorities participating in the National Assembly have not reached the target of 18%: There are many reasons

Mr. Giang A Chu - Vice Chairman of the National Assembly's Ethnic Council said that there are many reasons, both subjective and objective, that have caused the proportion of ethnic minorities in the National Assembly in recent years to not reach the set target, that is the quality of human resources in ethnic minority areas in general, and ethnic minorities in particular, is still low. The number of university, college and especially post-graduate degrees accounts for a small proportion of the population structure.

As an ethnic minority who ran for and won the National Assembly election, and was later assigned as Deputy Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Cao Bang province, according to Mr. Be Minh Duc, the reason is related to the selection of candidates from the beginning.

Mr. Duc said that in selecting and introducing candidates, there is always a guiding structure and a combination structure. To achieve the rate of ethnic minorities running for the National Assembly, the competent authorities when reviewing, arranging and assigning personnel to introduce candidates need to determine the guiding structure related to ethnic minorities to ensure a high election rate.

"Carrying" many criteria is a limitation for ethnic minorities running for National Assembly deputies.

Mr. Duc said that if we say that "each candidate has to "carry" too many criteria, that is one of the reasons why the rate of ethnic minorities elected to the National Assembly is still low", it is also partly true. Because when ethnic minorities are introduced, and they are made to carry too many structures such as being female, young, non-Party, and ethnic minority, then with such a combined structure, it is certainly very difficult to choose people with positions or work positions, and practical experience. "Just the criteria of being young and non-Party, finding people who meet this requirement is already very difficult."

Mr. Duc emphasized this, and at the same time affirmed that "the arrangement and combined structure, meaning "carrying" so many criteria, is a limitation for ethnic minorities to run for National Assembly deputies".

“When looking for and assigning the structures of National Assembly and People’s Council deputies at all levels who are ethnic minorities, we often assign them to women, young people, and non-Party members. We still joke with each other that it is rare to have to shoulder so many structures like that, it is very difficult to find,” Ms. Luyen shared.

According to the Deputy Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Dien Bien province, in reality, the conditions for ethnic minorities to study and participate in social activities, to be able to meet the set standards, are very difficult. "We hope that for female candidates, ethnic minorities, they should be allowed to "bear" less of the structure," Ms. Luyen suggested.

Create opportunities for ethnic minority cadres to practice

In the list of 868 official candidates for the 15th National Assembly, there are 185 ethnic minority candidates, accounting for 21.31%. To achieve the goal of increasing the proportion of National Assembly deputies who are ethnic minorities from 17.3% in the 14th term to 18% in the 15th term, the gap of 0.7% seems very short, but it is not easy to achieve. That result depends a lot on the quality of the candidates in the election; the process of preparing candidates to build capacity, action programs. And most importantly, whether they can mobilize voters to vote for them or not.

Emphasizing that the Party and the State have had very clear policies along with many orientation policies on training for the young generation as well as ethnic minorities from the lowest levels of education such as preschool, primary, secondary, high school to university. However, Ms. Lo Thi Luyen admitted that in reality, a part of ethnic minorities to meet these requirements and conditions is also very difficult.

In the long term, to ensure that many ethnic minorities have the conditions and standards to meet the requirements of parliamentary activities, Mr. Be Minh Duc said that the Party and State need to continue to have long-term training and fostering policies, creating conditions for ethnic minority cadres to have the opportunity to practice; during the working process, when there are enough conditions, they should pay attention to training, arranging, promoting and appointing cadres who are ethnic minorities. When introduced, the possibility of being elected and achieving the goal of ethnic minorities being elected to the National Assembly will be higher./.