Directive No. 23/1999/CT-TTg On the election of representatives to People's Councils at all levels for the term 1999-2004.

DIRECTIVE

On the election of representatives to the People's Councils at all levels for the 1999-2004 term

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THE PRIME MINISTER

The Standing Committee of the National Assembly has determined and announced the date of the election of representatives to the People's Councils at all levels for the 1999-2004 term as Sunday, November 14, 1999.

The Political Bureau has issued Directive No. 49/CT-TW dated August 7, 1999 on leading the election of representatives to the People's Councils at all levels for the 1999-2004 term, considering this as a key task from now until the end of 1999, a broad political movement and democratic activity of the people nationwide to directly select and elect representatives who embody the will and aspirations of the people in their locality; at the same time, further exercising the people's right to mastery in building and consolidating the government to be increasingly clean, strong, effective, and responsive to the new development requirements of the country.

To ensure that the election is truly democratic, lawful, safe, economical, and creates a festive atmosphere for the entire population, reflecting the people's right to mastery, the Prime Minister issues the following directive:

1. Ministries, agencies equivalent to ministries, and government agencies related to their functions and tasks shall promptly implement plans to guide, organize, and serve the election of representatives to the People's Councils at all levels for the 1999-2004 term.

Organize timely and extensive propaganda among state officials, armed forces personnel, and all strata of the people regarding the significance and importance of the election, the basic contents of the Law on Election of Representatives to the People's Councils (amended), the Law on Organization of the People's Councils and People's Committees (amended), and guiding documents of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, the Government, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee so that everyone understands their rights and obligations as citizens, and grasp the regulations and guidance of state agencies on election work. Based on this, raise awareness of mastery and self-discipline among organizations and voters to choose and elect representatives who embody the will and aspirations of the local people, contributing to building and consolidating local governance.

The Ministry of Culture and Information, the Ministry of Transport, the General Post Office, central and local mass media agencies shall plan to organize timely propaganda and promotion for the election day; ensure smooth transportation and communication during the implementation of election work.

The Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Public Security shall develop plans to coordinate forces to deploy tasks of maintaining order, security, and social safety in each area and nationwide during the election days.

The Ministry of Finance shall cooperate with the Government's Organization and Cadre Affairs Board to ensure timely allocation of funds for the election according to the assigned plan, provide strict guidance and supervision to achieve frugal spending and correct purposes.

The Minister, Head of the Government's Organization and Cadre Affairs Board shall be responsible before the Government for organizing meetings to implement and train localities on election work according to the law; monitor the preparation situation and progress of election work in localities across the country, and report to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, the Prime Minister, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee on the implementation of this Directive.

2. Local People's Councils at all levels shall ensure the organization, implementation, and service of the election of representatives to the People's Councils at all levels for the 1999-2004 term based on their functions and tasks.

Chairmen of provincial and centrally-administered city People's Councils shall be responsible before the Prime Minister for organizing the implementation of the election based on the provisions of the Law on Election of Representatives to the People's Councils and guiding documents of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, the Government, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, and relevant agencies; develop plans to closely coordinate with the Vietnam Fatherland Front and its member organizations at central and local levels to organize a truly democratic and lawful election in accordance with current regulations; mobilize voters to conscientiously fulfill their electoral duties as citizens; and simultaneously complete regular economic and social tasks in their localities.

In preparatory work, local People's Councils need to have contingency plans for sudden natural disasters on election day to ensure that the people can vote normally.

The Prime Minister requests ministries, agencies equivalent to ministries, government agencies, and local People's Councils at all levels to promptly implement preparatory work for the election and regularly report to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, the Prime Minister, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, and the Government's Organization and Cadre Affairs Board on the progress from the preparatory stage to completion and summarization of the election./.

PRIME MINISTER

(Signed)

Phan Van Khai