Elections in Vietnam

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Elections in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam occur under a one-party political system led by the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). Direct elections occurred at both the local and national levels to elect members of the People's Councils and the National Assembly, with all candidate nominations pre-approved by the CPV-led Vietnamese Fatherland Front. [1] Elections serve the purposes of information acquisition and cooptation rather than popularity contest but still remain of significance to the political life and legitimacy of the Vietnamese party-state. [2]

Contents

General

The President of Vietnam (Chủ tịch nước) is elected by the National Assembly. The Prime Minister of Vietnam (Thủ tướng) and Chief Justice (Chánh án Tối cao) of Vietnam are appointed by the president and approved by the national Assembly. The ministers are then appointed by the prime Minister and also approved by the national Assembly. [3]

In the May 20th 2007 election, the Vietnamese Fatherland Front, consisting of the Communist Party of Vietnam, participated alongside affiliated groups and organizations; The 875 candidates for 500 seats included 150 who are not Communist Party members, but have party approval to run. Thirty candidates were allowed to enter on their own, their nominations approved by colleagues and neighbors. [4] [5] [6]  In March 2023, the National Assembly elected Võ Văn Thưởng as the country's president, which is a mostly ceremonial role. [7]

Electoral system

The deputies of the National Assembly are elected using a block voting system from multi-member electoral units. [8] [9] The National Election Council is the authority which puts rules and guidelines into effect, as well as overseeing general elections in the country. [10] The nomination process is controlled by the Vietnam Fatherland Front, who holds consultative conferences to narrow down a field of candidates for election. The selection process takes into account factors such as proportional representation from the major regions of the country, gender balance, and the inclusion of ethnic minorities as well as representation of mass organizations. [10] [11] Generally, 90% of seats are directly reserved for the Communist Party of Vietnam, with the remaining 10% reserved for non-party members approved by the Fatherland Front. [10]

Local election

The people's Council (Hội đồng Nhân dân) is the local legislature of provinces and municipalities of Vietnam. The people's councils represent the local authority of the state and are the top supervisory bodies at each level. They do not govern directly but instead elect and oversee people's committees that act as executive bodies and carry out local administrative duties; [12] council members are elected via a direct system for a five-year term. The number of representatives depends on the population of that province or municipality. One councilor is elected chairman.

The People's Council elects the People's Committee (Ủy ban Nhân dân,) the executive power. The People's Committee consists of a Chairman and a number of commissioners.

The Judge of the People's Court (Tòa án Nhân dân) of each province or municipality is appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court of Vietnam. [13]

Latest elections

Legislative election

Results of the 2021 Vietnamese legislative election.svg
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Communist Party of Vietnam 485+10
Non-party members14–5
Vacant1–
Total500+4
Total votes69,243,604–
Registered voters/turnout69,523,13399.60
Source: National Election Council, Vietnamplus

See also

Related Research Articles

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The politics of Vietnam is dominated by a single party under an authoritarian system, the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). The President of Vietnam is the head of state, and the Prime Minister of Vietnam is the head of government, both of these are separate from the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam who leads the CPV and is head of the Politburo and the Central Military Commission, thus the General Secretary is the de facto supreme leader of Vietnam. Executive power is exercised by the government and the President of Vietnam. Legislative power is vested in the National Assembly of Vietnam. The Judiciary is independent of the executive. The parliament adopted the current Constitution of Vietnam, its fifth, on 28 November 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vietnamese Fatherland Front</span> Political party in Vietnam

The Vietnamese Fatherland Front is an umbrella group of mass movements in Vietnam aligned with the Communist Party of Vietnam forming the Vietnamese government. It was founded in February 1977 by the merger of the Vietnamese Fatherland Front of North Vietnam and two Viet Cong groups, the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam and the Alliance of National, Democratic, and Peace Forces. It is an amalgamation of many smaller groups, including the Communist Party itself. Other groups that participated in the establishment of the Front were the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Ho Chi Minh Young Pioneer Organization. It also included the Democratic Party of Vietnam and Socialist Party of Vietnam, until they disbanded in 1988. It also incorporates some officially sanctioned religious groups.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Assembly of Vietnam</span> National legislature of Vietnam

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam</span> Legislative speaker of Vietnam

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam</span> Executive committee for communist parties

The Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam, formally the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, is the highest body of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) in between gatherings of the National Congress and of the plenary sessions Central Committee. According to Party rules, the Politburo directs the general orientation of the government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam</span> Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Members of the 12th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam</span> Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Vietnamese legislative election</span>

Legislative elections were held in Vietnam on 23 May 2021 to elect members of the National Assembly, which would subsequently appoint the Prime Minister, and deputies of People's Councils. The election took place on a Sunday in line with local legislation. Results were announced on 10 June.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">13th Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam</span> Politburo of Vietnams Communist Party

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Võ Văn Thưởng</span> President of Vietnam since 2023

Võ Văn Thưởng is a Vietnamese politician serving as the President of Vietnam since 2023, being the youngest person to serve in this position since the country's reunification. As the country's head of state, Thưởng is the second highest official in Vietnam after Nguyễn Phú Trọng, the general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">15th National Assembly of Vietnam</span> Vietnamese parliamentary cycle in 2021

The 15th National Assembly of Vietnam is a parliamentary cycle that commenced in July 2021 following the legislative elections on 23 May 2021. The National Assembly has 499 members, formally confirmed at the 8th meeting of the National Election Council on 12 July 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trần Quốc Vượng (politician)</span> Vietnamese politician

Trần Quốc Vượng is a Vietnamese politician. He was a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Permanent Member of the Party Central Committee's Secretariat, Former Deputy Head of Central Steering Committee on Anti-corruption, Member of the National Assembly of Vietnam. He has worked in many units and agencies of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Socialist Republic of Vietnam, serving as Chairman of the Central Inspection Commission of the Communist Party of Vietnam; Head of Central Office of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Secretary of the Party Personnel Committee, Prosecutor General of the Supreme People's Procuracy of Vietnam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">13th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam</span> Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam

The 13th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) has been in session since the conclusion of the 13th National Congress in 2021. It elected, at its 1st Plenary Session, the Politburo, about half of the membership of the Secretariat and the Central Inspection Commission of the 13th term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">7th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam</span> Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam

The 7th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) was elected at the 7th CPV National Congress. It elected the 7th Politburo and the 7th Secretariat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">6th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam</span> Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam

The 6th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) was elected at the 6th CPV National Congress. It elected the 6th Politburo and the 6th Secretariat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">5th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam</span> Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam

The 5th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) was elected at the 5th CPV National Congress. It elected the 5th Politburo and the 5th Secretariat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">4th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam</span> Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam

The 4th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) was elected at the 4th CPV National Congress. It elected the 4th Politburo and the 4th Secretariat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">13th Secretariat of the Communist Party of Vietnam</span> Secretariat of Vietnams Communist Party

The 13th Secretariat of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), formally the 13th Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (Vietnamese: Ban Bí thư Ban Chấp hành Trung ương Đảng Cộng sản Việt Nam Khoá XIII), was partly elected by the 1st Session of the 13th Politburo and partly elected by the 1st Plenary Session of the 13th Central Committee in the immediate aftermath of the 13th National Congress. Nguyễn Phú Trọng was re-elected for his third term as General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, a position he has held since 2011.

The 12th Secretariat of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), formally the 12th Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (Vietnamese: Ban Bí thư Ban Chấp hành Trung ương Đảng Cộng sản Việt Nam Khoá XII), was partly elected by a decision of the 12th Politburo and partly elected by the 1st Plenary Session of the 12th Central Committee (CC) in the immediate aftermath of the 12th National Congress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alternates of the 12th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam</span>

On 27 January 2016, the 12th National Congress elected 20 people to serve as alternates of the 12th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) for the electoral term 2016–2021. The Central Committee is the highest decision-making institution in the CPV and Vietnam when the Party's National Congress and the Politburo are adjourned. In between two congresses, the Central Committee is responsible for organising and directing the implementation of the Party's Political Platform, Charter and resolutions adopted at the National Congress. It decides on guidelines and policies in all relevant fields, domestic or foreign. The sitting Central Committee is responsible for convening the next National Congress. Alternates are party cadres who have the right to speak and attend meetings of the Central Committee but do not have the right to vote. They are 45 years of age or younger and undergo long-term political education to prepare them for future assignments and election as a member of the Central Committee. Candidates for alternates need to meet the same standards as Central Committee members. Work assignments of alternates are decided upon by the Politburo. Lastly, alternates are responsible to and report on their work to the Central Committee.

References

  1. ↑ "Vietnam Goes to The Polls With State-Approved Candidates Offering Little Choice". Radio Free Asia. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  2. ↑ Bui, Thiem (22 May 2014). "Elections in a Communist Party Regime: Vietnam's Electoral Integrity Reforms and Challenges". The Australian Political Studies Association Annual Conference, University of Sydney.
  3. ↑ "National Elections in Vietnam". Hans Seidel Stiftung. May 21, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Vietnam elects National Assembly in new trade era". Reuters. May 19, 2007.
  5. ↑ "Vietnam elections plagued by biased vetting, intimidation". Australian Broadcasting Corporation . 20 May 2016.
  6. ↑ Bui, Thiem (2014). "Elections in a Communist Party Regime: Vietnam's Electoral Integrity Reforms and Challenges". SSRN Electronic Journal. doi:10.2139/ssrn.2440088. ISSN   1556-5068. S2CID   152364538.
  7. ↑ "Vietnam parliament elects Vo Van Thuong as new state president". Reuters. March 1, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Two How Elections Work in Vietnam". United Front. 2021. pp. 49–66. doi:10.1515/9781503614758-005. ISBN   9781503614758. S2CID   240967678.
  9. ↑ University, © Stanford; Stanford; California 94305. "A Balance of Power: The Role of Vietnam's Electoral and Legislative Institutions". fsi.stanford.edu. Retrieved 2022-07-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. 1 2 3 "National Elections in Vietnam". southeastasia.hss.de. Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung Foundation. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  11. ↑ "ON ELECTION OF THE DEPUTIES TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY". ace project - the electoral knowledge network. April 15, 1997.
  12. ↑ "Government Structure - The National Assembly". Country Studies.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  13. ↑ "Chief justice". The Supreme People’s Court of The Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
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