Parliamentary elections were held in South Vietnam on 30 August 1959, resulting in an overwhelming victory for President Ngô Đình Diệm and the government. The regime won all but two of the 123 seats in the National Assembly, taken by five pro-government political parties and pro-government independent candidates. The elections allowed some liberalization in terms of freedom of speech, but the Diệm regime continued to maintain rigid control over the election process. Despite considerable efforts in preventing a small number of opposition candidates from standing during the election through the use of army soldiers bussed in to stuff ballot boxes to support the pro-government candidates, two independent candidates from the opposition were elected – Phan Quang Đán and Phan Khắc Sửu. However, during the first inaugural session of the National Assembly, Đán and another independent deputy, Nguyen Tran were not permitted to attend and were arrested and charged with electoral fraud.[1] The election as a whole was described by a 1966 CIA report as the "dirtiest and most openly rigged" of all South Vietnamese elections.[2]
North Vietnam suggested to Diệm that the pre-electoral consultative conference should be held. This was done in May and June 1956, in July 1957, in May 1958 and again in July 1959. The offer was to be negotiated between North and South Vietnam, on the basis of "free general elections by secret ballot." All such offers were rejected. Diệm refused to have the election called for in Article 7 of the Declaration of the Geneva Agreements, as the former State of Vietnam had not signed to the Geneva Agreements – therefore it did not abide to any of its agreements. The United States supported him fully. The result of such refusal was the disastrous civil war which ensued. American Senator Ernest Gruening, in a speech delivered to the United States Senate on 9 April 1965 said "That civil war began... when Diệm's regime—at our urging—refused to carry out the provision contained in the Geneva Agreement to hold elections for the reunification of Vietnam."
Dan was regarded as a nationalist anti-communist who was one of the most able political figures in the country, and was elected by a 6-1 ratio over Diem's government candidate. This came despite 8,000 Army of the Republic of Vietnam soldiers being bussed from out of district to stuff ballot boxes.[3]
Despite strong protests from the US and UK embassies, Diệm was adamant that Đán would not be able to take his seat. When the Assembly was inaugurated, Đán was confronted by police and put under arrest as he attempted to leave his medical clinic to attend the session.[3] Đán was charged with electoral fraud, on the grounds that he supposedly offered free medical care to induce voters to support him. He also pointed out that if this were the case, then he would have run for election in the district in which his practice was located, to maximise the number of patients who were in his voting district.[4]
Referencesedit
^Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II, p331 ISBN0-19-924959-8
^"7. The Making of a Revolution in South Vietnam", Cauldron of Resistance, Cornell University Press, pp. 173–195, 2017-12-31, doi:10.7591/9780801467417-010, ISBN978-0-8014-6741-7, retrieved 2022-07-27
^ abWarner, Denis (1964). The Last Confucian: Vietnam, South-East Asia, and the West. Sydney: Angus and Robertson. pp. 112–114.
^Scigliano, Robert (1964). South Vietnam: nation under stress. Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin. p. 95.
January 01, 1970
1959, south, vietnamese, parliamentary, election, parliamentary, elections, were, held, south, vietnam, august, 1959, resulting, overwhelming, victory, president, ngô, Đình, diệm, government, regime, seats, national, assembly, taken, five, government, politica. Parliamentary elections were held in South Vietnam on 30 August 1959 resulting in an overwhelming victory for President Ngo Đinh Diệm and the government The regime won all but two of the 123 seats in the National Assembly taken by five pro government political parties and pro government independent candidates The elections allowed some liberalization in terms of freedom of speech but the Diệm regime continued to maintain rigid control over the election process Despite considerable efforts in preventing a small number of opposition candidates from standing during the election through the use of army soldiers bussed in to stuff ballot boxes to support the pro government candidates two independent candidates from the opposition were elected Phan Quang Đan and Phan Khắc Sửu However during the first inaugural session of the National Assembly Đan and another independent deputy Nguyen Tran were not permitted to attend and were arrested and charged with electoral fraud 1 The election as a whole was described by a 1966 CIA report as the dirtiest and most openly rigged of all South Vietnamese elections 2 Contents 1 Background 2 Results 3 Aftermath 4 ReferencesBackground editNorth Vietnam suggested to Diệm that the pre electoral consultative conference should be held This was done in May and June 1956 in July 1957 in May 1958 and again in July 1959 The offer was to be negotiated between North and South Vietnam on the basis of free general elections by secret ballot All such offers were rejected Diệm refused to have the election called for in Article 7 of the Declaration of the Geneva Agreements as the former State of Vietnam had not signed to the Geneva Agreements therefore it did not abide to any of its agreements The United States supported him fully The result of such refusal was the disastrous civil war which ensued American Senator Ernest Gruening in a speech delivered to the United States Senate on 9 April 1965 said That civil war began when Diệm s regime at our urging refused to carry out the provision contained in the Geneva Agreement to hold elections for the reunification of Vietnam Results editPartySeatsNational Revolutionary Movement78Vietnamese Socialist Party4Social Democratic Party3Vietnamese Restoration Party2Democratic Liberties Party2Pro government independents32Opposition independents2Total123Source Keesings Research ReviewAftermath editDan was regarded as a nationalist anti communist who was one of the most able political figures in the country and was elected by a 6 1 ratio over Diem s government candidate This came despite 8 000 Army of the Republic of Vietnam soldiers being bussed from out of district to stuff ballot boxes 3 Despite strong protests from the US and UK embassies Diệm was adamant that Đan would not be able to take his seat When the Assembly was inaugurated Đan was confronted by police and put under arrest as he attempted to leave his medical clinic to attend the session 3 Đan was charged with electoral fraud on the grounds that he supposedly offered free medical care to induce voters to support him He also pointed out that if this were the case then he would have run for election in the district in which his practice was located to maximise the number of patients who were in his voting district 4 References edit Dieter Nohlen Florian Grotz amp Christof Hartmann 2001 Elections in Asia A data handbook Volume II p331 ISBN 0 19 924959 8 7 The Making of a Revolution in South Vietnam Cauldron of Resistance Cornell University Press pp 173 195 2017 12 31 doi 10 7591 9780801467417 010 ISBN 978 0 8014 6741 7 retrieved 2022 07 27 a b Warner Denis 1964 The Last Confucian Vietnam South East Asia and the West Sydney Angus and Robertson pp 112 114 Scigliano Robert 1964 South Vietnam nation under stress Boston Massachusetts Houghton Mifflin p 95 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1959 South Vietnamese parliamentary election amp oldid 1107553246, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
