Vientiane: The selection of candidates who fully meet the required standards and qualifications for the 10th National Assembly (NA) and the 5th Provincial People's Councils (PPC) is of vital importance. These individuals are decisive in determining the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of future political operations at both national and local legislative levels.
According to Lao News Agency, Party committees at all levels must provide close leadership and guidance to election committees. They are required to coordinate closely with central and local agencies to research and select candidates who meet professional standards while ensuring a balanced and appropriate structure. This process is guided by the outcomes of the three-level Party congresses and the 12th National Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party.
A key focus of the candidate selection involves gender composition, where female candidates must account for an average of at least 35% of the total candidate pool, and women must make up at least 30% of the total elected members. Additionally, candidates must represent an appropriate proportion of the four main ethno-linguistic groups: Lao-Tai, Mon-Khmer, Hmong-Mien, and Sino-Tibetan, reflecting the demographic characteristics and population realities of each locality.
Candidates should also be drawn from diverse sectors, including Party and State organizations, the Lao Front for National Development, the Lao Veterans Federation, mass organizations, National Defense/Public Security forces, public and private educational institutions, state enterprises, cooperatives, private enterprises, and the business sector, all in accordance with legal qualifications.
To ensure continuity and the development of future leadership, candidates should be distributed across various age groups: 15-20% aged 45 years and under, 35-45% aged 46-55 years, 25-30% aged 56-60 years, and 10-15% over 60 years. Maintaining a balanced ratio between new and returning members, as well as between full-time members and those holding concurrent positions, is crucial for uninterrupted legislative performance.
The core selection criteria emphasize a strong political stance and revolutionary ethics as primary factors, with knowledge, professional competence, experience, and good health as supporting factors. These qualities are essential to enable members to effectively deliberate and decide on key national and local issues in line with the Party's comprehensive renovation policy, ensuring principled, efficient, and productive governance.
