April 25, 1976 - General Election Day for the National Assembly of a unified Vietnam

(Baonghean.vn) - 41 years ago, on April 25, 1976, over 23 million voters of unified Vietnam enthusiastically performed their civic duty, electing worthy representatives to the highest state power agency of independent, unified Vietnam, marking the decisive victory of our people on the path to national unification.

First Secretary of the Party Central Committee Le Duan votes for the 6th National Assembly in Ba Dinh district, Hanoi, April 1976.

On April 30, 1975, the people's resistance war against the US to save the country was completely victorious, the South was completely liberated, the country was unified, but in the two regions there still existed two states with two governments, namely the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam. Therefore, the urgent requirement was to quickly unify the country in terms of State.

In November 1975, delegations from the North and South met at the Political Consultative Conference in Ho Chi Minh City and resolved that “it is necessary to complete the reunification of the country on the basis of national independence and socialism. That is the most complete reunification”.

Election campaign for a unified National Assembly in Hoang Lien Son province, April 1976.

In the entire process of completing the reunification of the Fatherland, the key step is to unify the country in terms of the State. Therefore, the Political Consultative Conference decided to organize an early General Election throughout Vietnam to elect a unified National Assembly. The General Election to elect a unified National Assembly of the unified Vietnam was held on April 25, 1976.

In order for the election to achieve good results, the Politburo requested that Party committees at all levels pay utmost attention to the leadership of the General Election. According to Directive No. 228-CT/TW dated January 3, 1976 of the Politburo, the General Election to elect the National Assembly will be conducted nationwide on the same day, according to truly democratic principles: universal, equal, direct and secret ballot.

The National Assembly voted to adopt the National Flag, National Emblem, and National Anthem at the First Session of the unified National Assembly, June 2, 1976.

Implementing the Politburo's directive on leading the general election to elect the National Assembly of the whole country, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the Advisory Council of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam jointly agreed to establish a National Election Council with an equal number of delegates from each region.

According to the Political Consultation Conference, the National Election Council consists of 22 delegates (each region elects 11 delegates), including 1 Chairman and 1 Vice Chairman (Chairman is comrade Truong Chinh; Vice Chairman is comrade Pham Hung).

Hai Phong workers vote for the 6th National Assembly.

Since February 1976, the work of propagating and mobilizing people to participate in the General Election has been deployed throughout the country. Media such as newspapers, radio, and television have identified the propaganda of the General Election as a key task during the preparation and implementation of the election. Party and State documents on the General Election have been introduced and widely studied by the people.

The General Election campaign was carried out vigorously throughout the country. As the election day approached, the revolutionary enthusiasm, awareness and responsibility of the masses for their civil rights became more and more evident. Before the election day, most towns and cities held rallies and parades of the masses to welcome the General Election.

Acting President Nguyen Huu Tho signed the Decree promulgating the new Constitution, December 1980

In Saigon alone, hundreds of thousands of workers, farmers, intellectuals, artists, students, and pupils took to the streets to march. All localities, agencies, military units, hospitals, schools, wards, hamlets... set up altars to the Fatherland, hung flags, and decorated with flowers to celebrate the General Election.

According to the decision of the National Election Council, the general election to elect the National Assembly of the unified Vietnam was held on April 25, 1976. This was truly a great festival for all Vietnamese people. The general election to elect the National Assembly of the whole country took place in peaceful conditions.

In a jubilant atmosphere, over 23 million voters, in the position of masters of the country, enthusiastically performed their civic duty to elect worthy representatives to the highest state power organ of an independent and unified Vietnam.

Navy soldiers participating in the election of National Assembly deputies of unified Vietnam (April 1976). Photo archive

The General Election was a resounding success, the entire country elected the required number of delegates in the first round. That affirmed the iron will of the entire people to overcome difficulties and successfully build a peaceful, independent, unified and socialist Vietnam.

At the first session, the 6th National Assembly passed a Resolution on the country's name, national flag, national emblem, national anthem and State organization before the new Constitution. The National Assembly decided to change the name of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; and officially named Saigon-Gia Dinh City as Ho Chi Minh City. The birth of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam marked the beginning of a new development step in the country's development.

April 25, 1976 will be recorded in the history of the nation and the history of the Vietnamese revolution. It is the day of the complete completion of the cause of national reunification. It is the day of the great demonstration of the strength and will of all our people - to reunify the country on the basis of national independence and socialism, to tighten the ranks, to unite and fight under the glorious, invincible flag of the Party and great Uncle Ho.

Peace

(Synthetic)