(Illustrative photo by VNA)

In its article "Ten Elections to Watch in 2026," the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) of the United States ranked Vietnam's legislative elections set for March 15 among the most noteworthy political events of the year.

Professor Edmund Malesky, an expert in political economy and public governance at Duke University of the US said in an interview on The People’s Deputies Newspaper on March 9 that in the context of Vietnam’s short- and long-term socio-economic goals set out at the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, he would expect the upcoming elections to play an important role in strengthening institutional reform and sustaining economic modernization.

“I am hopeful that the new legislature will include a younger and highly qualified cohort with the education, professional experience, and policy skills needed not only to design ambitious reforms but also to oversee their effective implementation,” he added.

According to the East Asia Forum of the Australian National University, the vote, scheduled for March 15, would represent a “strategic turning point” as Vietnam seeks to maintain economic growth while adjusting its foreign policy amid intensifying competition among major powers.

The South China Morning Post said the new legislature is expected to continue playing a crucial role in perfecting the legal framework and strengthening oversight of the state apparatus.