Election campaigning: Action plans must be realistic.

According to voters, candidates must have a concrete action plan, and once they have made promises to the people, they must ensure that those promises are fulfilled.

Following the third consultative conference, starting from the date of the official announcement of the list of candidates (April 27, 2016), and ending 24 hours before the start of voting, agencies, organizations, and units will hold meetings with voters for candidates to campaign. Many voters are concerned that candidates must have a concrete action plan and, having made promises to the people, must ensure that those promises are fulfilled.

According to the Law on Election of National Assembly Deputies and People's Council Deputies, the principles of election campaigning are to be conducted democratically, openly, equally, in accordance with the law, and to ensure social order and safety.

People view the list of candidates for election (Photo: KTĐT)

Candidates' election campaigns are conducted through: meeting and interacting with voters in their constituencies to present their action plans if elected as National Assembly or People's Council representatives. However, many argue that National Assembly candidates should have a concrete action plan; voters are more interested in what a candidate will accomplish if elected and how they will truly represent the voice of the voters.

In reality, voters don't want to hear candidates make promises like: if elected, I will contribute to strengthening and improving the quality of the National Assembly's operations; work with the National Assembly to enact laws and policies, ensure democracy, and improve the people's lives; I will question the head of the government and ministries to the very end... While these are indeed the functions and duties of a National Assembly representative, such promises do not truly reflect the aspirations of the voters in their constituencies.

Mr. Bui Van Xuyen, Standing Member of the National Assembly's Law Committee, believes that first-time candidates need a specific action plan, especially those National Assembly representatives who have previously served a term in the National Assembly. He argues that during election campaigns, they should not be complacent and should even prepare more thoroughly to reflect the aspirations of the voters.

“The action program of a candidate for National Assembly representative is crucial; the representative must be able to voice the opinions of the voters in the National Assembly and before central and local authorities to express the thoughts and aspirations of the people. This includes addressing the people's aspirations, meeting their demands and desires, including economic and social development, and maintaining political stability. All these aspirations are legitimate. The five-year action program must reflect this,” said Mr. Bui Van Xuyen.

Speaking with a VOV reporter, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Thang, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the People's Representative Newspaper, shared that if a candidate's campaign program for the National Assembly is rich, practical, and insightful, voters can question the candidate's action plan.

At the same time, candidates can debate their action programs. Through debate, the programs will be clarified and linked to the candidates' capabilities, responsibilities, time, and ability to implement them.

In fact, questioning the candidates' action programs will highlight how elected representatives, in addition to their general contributions to the National Assembly, will fulfill their action programs and promises, making concrete contributions to the country and the region they are in.

According to Mr. Nguyen Quoc Thang, when interacting with voters, in addition to being able to ask questions, voters will know which candidate represents them, and will trust that the steps taken by those elected will fulfill their will and aspirations, making practical contributions to the activities of the National Assembly and People's Councils. This is an important point in the election campaign process, ensuring that the campaigning process is not merely 형식적인 (formalistic), but substantive and profound, reflecting the promises made to the people when entrusted with important responsibilities. This is what makes election campaigning vibrant and practical.”

The promises made by candidates will serve as a basis for voters to monitor the actions of those elected as National Assembly representatives throughout their term of office. Perhaps there should also be a mechanism for dismissing National Assembly and People's Council representatives who fail to keep their solemn promises made to voters and the people during the election campaign.

According to VOV