Women make up 25.76% of the law making body
493 deputies from all walks of life were elected to the 12th National Assembly following the country’s May 20 polls, said Elections Council Secretary General Bui Ngoc Thanh, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, announced the poll’s result at a press briefing on May 29, stating that tertiary educated deputies make up the backbone of the new legislature as virtually all hold either graduate or post graduate degrees (62.68 percent and 33.27 percent, respectively).
Other statistic of note included the oldest deputy at 80 years old and the youngest aged 24 years old. Women made up 25.76 percent of law making body and ethnic minorities took 87 seats or 17.65 percent of the Assembly.
“Non-Party members won 43 seats or 8.72 percent of the NA,” said the elections council leader.
Thanh also said that the new National Assembly is slated to convene its first meeting on July 19 or 20 and focus on forming a new cabinet.
“The new legislative staff will also review the progress made in implementing socio-economic targets for the entire 2007 year,” said the senior legislator.
The recent elections were witness to high transparency and democracy, Thanh concluded.
Women of Vietnam Review No 2/2007
