National Assembly and People's Council Elections 2026: Representatives must master technology and connect with the people
WVR - New demands for National Assembly representatives extend beyond political acumen to include data and technology proficiency, alongside enhanced dialogue with constituents.
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As the nation enters a new phase of development, the expectations for National Assembly representatives are rising. These expectations encompass not only political courage and professional competence but also mastery of data, technology, and increased dialogue with constituents. According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thanh Nam, Vice Rector of the University of Education (VNU), these are crucial factors for enhancing parliamentary activities and shaping future policies.
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| Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thanh Nam. |
Adapting to the demands of a new development phase
Vietnam is entering a new development phase with rapid changes driven by the knowledge economy, digital transformation, and international integration. This context sets increasingly high demands on National Assembly representatives.
According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thanh Nam, candidates in the upcoming National Assembly election need to clearly demonstrate their vision, competence, and commitment through specific action programs. Publicizing these programs with clear, measurable goals not only helps voters understand the candidates' directions but also provides a basis for monitoring their performance after being elected.
When commitments are quantified with specific criteria, the responsibility of representatives to their constituents becomes clearer. This is also a crucial factor in enhancing the quality of legislative activities.
A notable trend is the increasing focus on expertise in the candidate structure, especially in science and technology fields. According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thanh Nam, the next National Assembly needs more voices representing the younger generation and experts in cutting-edge technology fields.
Fields like artificial intelligence, new materials, quantum technology, or space technology are posing many new policy issues. The participation of knowledgeable experts will provide scientific grounding and diverse perspectives for parliamentary decisions.
Besides professional competence, National Assembly representatives also need to enhance dialogue with the public. They must not only reflect the concerns and aspirations of constituents but also incorporate these issues into the policy-making process.
Currently, engaging with constituents can be done through various means, from direct meetings to digital platforms. However, according to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thanh Nam, the most important aspect remains the quality of dialogue and the ability to respond promptly to issues of concern to constituents.
Mr. Nam suggests that in the future, National Assembly representatives should also improve their communication and social interaction skills. A noteworthy suggestion is to build a "digital profile" or individual information portal for each representative, updating their activities, action programs, and commitments to constituents.
These platforms not only help representatives maintain near real-time dialogue with constituents but also serve as official information sources for the press and the public to follow their activities.
Assoc. Prof. Tran Thanh Nam asserts that if a transparent oversight mechanism is established from constituents, introducing bodies, the National Assembly to the press, the accountability of representatives will be more clearly defined.
Vietnam can learn from international experiences in evaluating the effectiveness of National Assembly representatives, particularly the mechanism of periodic accountability to constituents or mid-term confidence evaluations.
In practice, some localities have begun experimenting with developing criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of representatives or applying work measurement indices. These are seen as initiatives to enhance accountability and improve the quality of National Assembly activities.
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| The National Assembly and People's Council elections for the 2026-2031 term will take place on March 15, 2026. (Source: VGP) |
Mastering data and technology in the Digital Age
From his perspective, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thanh Nam believes that the current societal expectation is for National Assembly representatives to truly bring the people's voice into the policy-making process. To achieve this, each representative needs to proactively establish multiple channels for receiving information, from direct constituent engagement to digital platforms.
However, in the new context, traditional information channels alone are insufficient. National Assembly representatives need to expand social consultation mechanisms, such as organizing thematic seminars, consulting through the press, or social forums where various policy critiques are gathered.
Consulting opinions from expert councils and the scientific community is also essential to supplement arguments and scientific evidence for the policy-making process.
Alongside this, National Assembly representatives must continuously enhance their professional skills, particularly in data literacy and analysis. In the current context, many policy decisions increasingly rely on data and quantitative evidence.
Therefore, the ability to effectively exploit and use data will help representatives have stronger arguments when participating in parliamentary discussions.
To persuasively debate policies, representatives need a deep understanding of statistics and the ability to "decode" data. Understanding the essence of data allows representatives to make well-founded arguments and contribute to building social consensus in policy formulation.
In the context of digital transformation, the use of artificial intelligence tools is also becoming a necessary skill. However, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thanh Nam emphasizes that the application of technology should be done cautiously and responsibly, avoiding complete reliance on automated tools.
"In addition to professional competence and technological skills, the courage and stance of National Assembly representatives remain very important. Statements in the parliament not only impact domestic policy-making but are also closely watched by international public opinion," said Tran Thanh Nam.
Thus, the voice of National Assembly representatives reflects Vietnam's vision and stance in shaping policies and the country's development path.
Currently, the candidate structure shows increased attention to the quality of representatives, especially their expertise and ability to represent various social strata. Information about candidates is also becoming more transparent, providing voters with a better basis for making informed choices.
Besides traditional constituent engagement methods, many suggest enhancing official information channels online to provide voters with more comprehensive and accurate information about candidates.
Therefore, National Assembly representatives in the new phase must not only address immediate public issues but also have a long-term vision, contributing to realizing the country's development aspirations for decades to come.
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| Choosing representatives with integrity, vision, and innovative thinking will enhance the quality of National Assembly activities. (Photo: Yến Nguyệt) |
Integrity and responsibility to constituents
To build trust with constituents, according to Tran Thanh Nam, National Assembly representatives must demonstrate integrity and honesty in their activities. In fields like science, education, or innovation, many new policies may lead to complex impacts. Therefore, representatives need to maintain multi-channel interaction mechanisms with constituent groups, especially intellectuals and scientists.
Participating in scientific seminars, advisory councils, or professional forums will help representatives access diverse perspectives and have more scientific grounding when proposing policies.
Additionally, National Assembly representatives need to enhance communication skills, clearly and persuasively expressing their views to build social consensus on important policies.
After being elected, representatives need to concretize their action programs into clear, measurable tasks and objectives. Maintaining regular constituent engagement and participating in social forums will help representatives promptly grasp new issues in life. Based on this, analyses and statements in the parliament will have a more solid scientific and practical foundation.
Tran Thanh Nam hopes that candidates for the 16th National Assembly will clearly demonstrate a spirit of service, a desire to contribute, as well as professional competence and a vision for the country's future.
He also urges voters to thoroughly research candidate information to make informed decisions, ensuring each vote is based on the candidate's capability, qualifications, character, and action program.
"As the country enters a new development phase, choosing representatives with integrity, vision, and innovative thinking will enhance the quality of National Assembly activities, meeting the expectations of voters and the entire nation," Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thanh Nam emphasized.
