Elections for deputies to the 16th National Assembly, together with People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026 - 2031 tenure in Dak Lak province, were successfully held, spreading an atmosphere of excitement and confidence among people from all ethnic groups across the province. Dak Lak Newspaper and Radio - Television conducted an interview with comrade LUONG NGUYEN MINH TRIET, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, as well as Head of the Provincial Election Steering Committee, on the significance and outcomes of this important political event.

Amid the country’s transition into a new development phase, marked by strong reforms in organisational structures alongside operational methods within the political system, how do elections for deputies to the 16th National Assembly, along with People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026 - 2031 tenure, contribute to strengthening the great national unity bloc while enhancing public trust in the Party as well as the State?

In this context, the elections are not only a significant political event enabling each voter to exercise civic rights alongside obligations, but also an opportunity to promote socialist democracy, strengthen the great national unity bloc, while reinforcing public trust in the Party together with the State.

Through thorough, democratic, law-compliant preparation and organisation, the people directly participate in selecting outstanding representatives in terms of integrity, capability, and political steadfastness, ensuring their will and aspirations are represented within state power bodies.

Active, responsible voter participation vividly demonstrates the strength of the great national unity bloc, a vital resource providing a solid foundation for national development.

For Dak Lak province, one of the country’s largest localities, ranking third by area, with a population of approximately 3.38 million from 45 ethnic groups, this election is not only a significant political event but also an opportunity to further inspire while firmly strengthening unity among ethnic communities across the province.

Amid a democratic, festive atmosphere nationwide, voters from urban centres to remote, mountainous, and ethnic minority areas actively took part in voting with a strong sense of responsibility, demonstrating trust alongside expectations toward those representing their will and aspirations.

Broad, responsible voter participation provides vivid evidence of solidarity, social consensus, and public confidence in the Party together with the State, as well as the political system. This serves as a crucial foundation for Party committees, authorities, and elected bodies at all levels in the new tenure to further uphold their roles before the people, while effectively mobilising resources, tapping local potential along with advantages, with a clear determination to develop Dak Lak into a fast-growing, sustainable, culturally distinctive province in the coming period.

How do you assess the results, as well as the factors contributing to the success of the elections of deputies to the 16th National Assembly together with People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026 - 2031 tenure in Dak Lak province?

Given its characteristics as a locality with a vast area, large population, along with numerous remote, hard-to-reach, and ethnic minority areas, election organisation in Dak Lak province placed very high demands on leadership, direction, as well as implementation.

However, thanks to the close leadership of the Provincial Party Committee, the Election Steering Committee, as well as the Provincial Election Committee, combined with proactive, responsible engagement by Party committees together with authorities at all levels, and coordinated participation across the entire political system from provincial to grassroots level, preparation and organisation were carried out in a methodical, law-compliant manner.

The Vietnam Fatherland Front at all levels effectively fulfilled its core role in presiding over consultation processes, nominating candidates, while coordinating voter meetings, election campaigning, and promoting the people’s right to mastery throughout preparation as well as implementation of the elections.

Public communication on the elections was widely carried out through diverse formats, contributing to greater awareness among officials, Party members, alongside the public regarding the event’s significance and importance. Conditions supporting the elections were thoroughly prepared, covering facilities, equipment at polling stations, together with materials plus logistics serving election activities. Measures ensuring political security, social order, public safety, information security, as well as fire prevention and control were implemented in a coordinated, rigorous manner.

Notably, active, responsible participation by a large number of voters played a crucial role in ensuring elections across the province were conducted on schedule, in a safe, democratic, law-compliant manner, achieving overall success while truly becoming a nationwide festival for the people. From urban areas to rural regions, from favourable locations to remote areas, voters actively cast their ballots with a strong sense of responsibility.

As of 7:00 p.m. on March 15, 2026, more than 2.2 million voters in Dak Lak province had fulfilled their civic duty, reaching a turnout rate of 99.91%. Notably, 88 among 102 communes and wards recorded full turnout, reflecting strong consensus, public confidence, alongside a high sense of responsibility toward this important political event at both national plus local levels.

Provincial Party Secretary Luong Nguyen Minh Triet inspecting the posting of candidate information at Hoa Phu Commune during the recent election.

Following the successful elections, what key tasks will the Election Steering Committee, along with local authorities, prioritise to enable newly elected deputies to promptly implement their action programmes before voters?

Immediately after elections are completed, with official results announced, the Provincial Election Steering Committee will direct relevant agencies to promptly finalise procedures in line with legal regulations, announce results, certify eligibility of elected deputies, alongside organising the first sessions of People’s Councils at all levels to consolidate the organisational structure for the new-term administration, ensuring smooth, stable operation across elected bodies together with local authorities.

The province will prioritise favourable conditions enabling newly elected deputies to promptly implement action programmes committed before voters. Coordination with the Vietnam Fatherland Front at all levels will be strengthened for organising post-election voter meetings, enabling deputies to report results, listen to public concerns alongside aspirations, while translating commitments into concrete action plans aligned with local development tasks.

The Steering Committee, along with Party committees and authorities at all levels, will also focus on reviewing socio-eco development programmes and plans for the 2026 - 2031 tenure, creating conditions for deputies, particularly newly elected ones to access comprehensive information, grasp local realities, thereby effectively fulfilling their representative role for the will alongside aspirations of the people within the National Assembly as well as People’s Councils.

More importantly, each elected deputy must maintain close ties with voters, foster strong connections with the public, regularly listen, as well as faithfully reflect legitimate recommendations. On that basis, deputies should devote greater attention to practical research, proactively proposing breakthrough mechanisms, policies, alongside solutions suited to provincial conditions following administrative consolidation, thereby helping remove infrastructure bottlenecks, attract investment, while promoting development in high-tech agriculture, processing industries, the marine economy, tourism, together with renewable energy.

During the 2026 - 2031 period, the province targets double-digit growth, averaging 11-11.5% annually. This ambitious goal requires strong determination, concerted efforts across the political system, broad public consensus, while placing significant responsibility on deputies to the National Assembly alongside People’s Councils at all levels.

In their capacity as representatives of voters’ will alongside aspirations, deputies are expected to demonstrate intellect, political resolve, and a strong sense of responsibility when contributing to formulating as well as adopting key policies, while strengthening implementation oversight. Through these efforts, they help unlock local potential, leverage advantages, promote socio-eco development, and improve living standards.

Furthermore, deputies should actively propose initiatives, contribute ideas for further refining major policies, ensuring more effective utilisation of provincial strengths. Strategic, forward-looking proposals will serve as a key driving force for breakthrough progress, enabling Đắk Lắk to realise its double-digit growth target while achieving rapid, sustainable development throughout the 2026 - 2031 tenure.

It can be said that election success goes beyond selecting capable, deserving representatives; more importantly, it ushers in a new term characterised by effectiveness, accountability, alongside close public engagement, meeting voters’ trust as well as expectations.

Thank you very much, Comrade!

Translated by HAI LOAN