Vietnam holds general election, 93% candidates from ruling Communist Party

"Nearly 93 percent of the 864 parliamentary candidates in Sunday's election are Communist Party members, while 7.5 percent are independents, according to the national election council, down from 8.5 percent in 2021. The five-yearly elections in the tightly controlled one-party state will see more than 73 million voters elect 500 members of the National Assembly and representatives for local councils."

"The Communist Party, which has ruled the Southeast Asian nation of 100 million people unopposed for decades, holds 97 percent of the parliamentary seats. Voters in Vietnam are casting their ballots for members of the National Assembly, the country's top legislative body, which serves mainly to ratify decisions by the governing Communist Party."

"I do expect top leaders after this election will make major changes to make our country better, Nguyen Thi Kim, 73, told the AFP news agency. But in a country where major policies and projects are decided by senior cadres, many citizens feel lukewarm about elections, with one voter stating: I don't think who wins will have any impact on my life."

Vietnam held elections for its National Assembly, with over 73 million voters selecting 500 members and local representatives. Nearly 93 percent of 864 candidates are Communist Party members, while 7.5 percent are independents, continuing the party's dominance. The Communist Party controls 97 percent of parliamentary seats and has ruled unopposed for decades. The National Assembly primarily ratifies decisions made by senior party leadership rather than functioning as an independent legislative body. Some voters expressed hope for continued modernization under leader To Lam's reforms, while others expressed skepticism about elections' impact on their lives, reflecting widespread understanding that major policies are decided by senior cadres rather than elected representatives.

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