The 13th National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee commenced its 35thsession in Hanoi on February 25, evaluating a number of laws,including laws on electing deputies to the NA and the People’s Councils.

A national election council should be establishedonce an election date is announced, and automatically disperse after theNA recognises the eligibility of the deputies to ensure the counciloperates effectively and economically, according to Phung Quoc Hien,Head of the NA Committee for Finance and Budget, and Truong Thi Mai,head of the NA Committee for Social Affairs, and other members of thestanding committee.

The council could be reassembled if a supplementary deputy election is needed, they held.

NA Standing Committee members also asserted that the law shouldfurther clarify regulations on the functions, rights, responsibilitiesand organisation of the national election council, as well as itsrelations with local governments.

Meanwhile, theyhighlighted the need for more specific regulations on the ratio offemales, ethnic minorities, youth and re-elected deputies.

Truong Thi Mai, Head of the NA Committee for Social Affairs, and KsorPhuoc, Head of the NA Council of Ethnic Affairs, held that the minimumratio should be clearly stated in the candidacy list.

NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung proposed that the ratio should beflexible, but that a secondary election is held if the ratio is belowthe minimum figure.

Legislators also discussedregulations on electoral campaigns, proposing alternatives to meetingwith voters and using the mass media to ensure equality, publicity andtransparency of the election.

During the session,the NA Standing Committee will also drafted opinions on a number ofother laws, including the Law on Maritime-Island Resources andEnvironment, the revised Law on the State Budget and a draft ReferendumLaw.-VNA