[VT]: 2000 Special Vietnamese legislative election

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Diên Hồng Hall, National Assembly Building, Hanoi
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Following a long period of quiet for the Socialist Republic of Vietnam with multiple pieces of legislation and reforms being passed during this period a stunning announcement has been made to the international public. A Special Legislative election will be taking place this month.

Indeed following an amendment to the Land Laws of Vietnam that allowed current Land Users to either transfer or lease the land they have been given a right to things quickly snow balled from there. Next on the agenda was a revision to the 1992 Constitution which included the right to freedom of speech and freedom of religion.

Shortly after this occurred a Special Election was called for after much internal pressure to do so. In the Fatherland Front there are three recognized political parties that are vying for seats.

Communist Party of Vietnam which currently holds all of the seats.
The Communist Party of Vietnam wishes to continue the policy of Đổi Mới as well as Socialist-oriented market economy and hold to the tenants of Ho Chi Minh Thought as they interoperate them. They wish to hold the current course and keep the controls of the government to ensure they can steer Vietnam in the direction of achieving socialism in the nation. The Communism Party of Vietnam is warry of outside influence following the sudden changes made to the government and will act to restrain and limit the changes. Vietnamese nationalism is a inseparable from many of their policies which act to guard Vietnam from exploitation.

Socialist Party of Vietnam
The Socialist Party of Vietnam is about unity and holding the country together under the tenants of Vietnamese Nationalism. Vietnam must come first in all agreements between nations, or at the very least attempt to do so. The people of Vietnam in their eyes deserve that much. They however believe in extensive but neutral expansion of foreign affairs to other nations in order to secure economic deals abroad as well as political alliances. They believe in socialist democracy involving political democracy within a socially owned economy, with a particular emphasis on economic democracy, workplace democracy, and workers' self-management within a market socialist economy, or an alternative form of decentralized planned socialist economy. In terms of progressiveness they are middle of the road and believe a compromise solution can be found between the Communists and Democratic Party.

Democratic Party of Vietnam
The Democratic Party of Vietnam is both a party of Social Democracy and Democratic Socialists who are more willing to make reforms necessary to advance the interests of the people and nation. They wish to strengthen the current reforms that have been made as well as advance new reforms and continue this progress. In their eyes these news freedoms granted are only protectable in theory and can be revoked at any time, not only that but they believe in expanding freedoms as well as making the government more transparent and accountable. It believes in social and economic interventions to promote social justice within the framework of a liberal-democratic polity and a capitalist-oriented mixed economy. In essence it wishes to progress the mixed economy aspects of Đổi Mới. The Democratic Party of Vietnam wants to see to the annulment of Article 4 of the Constitution of Vietnam and Decree No. 31/CP, a change that will be a great blow to the Communist Party of Vietnam. If gaining a majority they will open up the Fatherland front to allow more then the currently allowed political parties. They are seeking closer ties with the United States of America and their partners across the globe.

The vote across the country will be a two round vote. The Democratic Party of Vietnam has formally invited journalists from across the world to come into the nation and observe the vote. The Communist Party has replied that there is no need to attract such attention and that the vote shall be carried out legally and without issue.

 

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(HAC NGUYEN/AFP via Getty Images)
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The nation wide vote was now underway, voting centers and booths had been set up all over the country. People flocking in from every corner of the nation. Some people from the surrounding countryside spending the day walking in if they do not own a vehicle, or relying on their community with vehicle sharing. One thing was starting to become certain though, there was more then just voting going on.

Outside one of the voting stations in Ho Chi Minh City there were people without markings standing in front, looking at people as they approached and attempted to enter. It seemed like every fifth person was approached by them. "You! What party are you voting for!?" a man would ask. "C-Communist Party." and like that they were let through. "Good, keep the country strong." one would say in passing as a few moments later someone would approach and apparently give the wrong answer." Who are you voting for?" they asked. "You should vote Communist." another said before they could even respond. "Independent." they said simply. One groaned and they muttered amongst themselves before deciding this one wasn't worth it and let them through. That is when they harassed another. "Who are you voting for?" they asked. "Democratic Party." they answered in a defiant tone only to get a shove as they were surrounded. "You should vote communist! Don't betray country!" They began to shove them around a little before chasing them off.

This was a sight that was repeating throughout the country, but unfortunately for people like these there was a flood of democratic party voters who were overwhelming their efforts. So it was little surprise when someone reported to Vietnam People's Public Security that some of these men had strong armed their way into the vote collection rooms with big bags filled with who knows what. The Officer who got the report waited and waited for orders and was growing frustrated before he just straight up decided to go check on things himself. He grabbed some of his fellow officers and then went to go inside.

The men outside approached in an attempt to block them but decided it was best not to mess with the Police who then strolled in. The men inside were a little bit more willing, and for them attempt to stop them from going out back were detained. Outback they would discover something most heinous. The ballot boxes were being stuffed with false votes. They put a stop to this, and reported it to command immediately who would launch a token effort of stationing a single police officer in each voting center. But they made one thing very clear, this was not to get out to the press.

 

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Voting was starting to come to a close, but that didn't stop the rumors from spreading. That the election was being rigged by the communist party. This drew the attention of the Việt Tân within the country. A organization that was banned in the nation, with a notable presence outside of it was never the less here. Their members began to come down upon the voting centers and used cell phones that were provided to them to communicate via the new cell tower network in the nation. Where there was no signal they simply used radio or land line. What they discovered was that the police were only doing a token effort to protect the ballot boxes. Some police officers were letting obvious Communist Party stooges out back, ones who looked increasingly desperate.

They staked out and began to gather more and more of their resources in places where this was evident, and then, they began. Starting protests there drawing attention to this obvious attempt to cheat the election. To make the voices of the people unheard. This did gather some attention, and people started to flood towards the voting stations where lone police men who were unarmed and without radio were forced to try and fail to keep back the people who wanted to see what was going on out back. Unable to stop them from going in the police would have to relent and let the curious people in. The commotion caused gave the communist party members enough time to escape however in many cases, but did leave the impression the boxes were tampered with.

Once the police got away the response was swift. Armed riot police were dispatched in cities while locations without such resource just deployed more police to drive away the Việt Tân. From now on however, the police stationed ten police per voting station. The only news about this that got out thanks to state run media was through the Việt Tân who ran their own newspaper, and had contacts overseas. One group that would hear of this would be the Việt Tân located in America Odinson where they had built much of their influence.

Regardless enough had gotten out via word of mouth that public officials were being asked constant questions about it. nd voters were not more determined then ever.

 

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Voting has concluded, and now all that is left to do is tally up the votes. The people of Vietnam patiently await the result of the election. The Commujist party hoping to retain firm control over the National Assembly, the more corrupt members rather certain their interference will have done the trick. While there are allegations of tampering, there is no proof at this time. Regardless, if there was truth behind the rumor that there was a flood of Democratic Party votes in the South then there could be problems. They couldn't just fudge the results at this stage, not without the truth leaking out.

As the results came in they were announces over radio and local TV broadcasts. Internet message boards, while few in Vietnam were being filled with speculation on the election. As well as updates on the situation. But as the announcements came it became obvious who the big winner was going to be. Democratic Party candidate after candidate was announced as the winner and the Democratic Party won more and more seats. Even with the tampering, the final results were in.

The Communist Party now controls 42% of the National Assembly
The Democratic Party now controls 52% of the National Assembly
The Socialist Party now controls 4% of the National Assembly
Independents now control 2% of the National Assembly

Voting has closed, and the winner celebrate gaining control of the National assembly.