2023 Vietnamese republic referendum (British Vietnam)

Vietnamese republic referendum, 2023
	; Commonwealth of Vietnam
Location	Vietnam
Date	1 April 2023 (1 year ago)
Outcome	• Monarchy abolished; • Indirect presidential election scheduled; • Vietnam leaving the Commonwealth
Results
	To alter the Constitution to establish the Commonwealth of Vietnam as a republic with the King and Governor-General being replaced by a President appointed by a two-thirds majority of the members of the Commonwealth Parliament. Do you approve this proposed alteration?

The Vietnamese republic referendum was held on 1 April 2023 as a referendum to amend the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Vietnam. A majority voted in favor of abolishing the monarchy and installing in place a President to be appointed by parliament.

Since the British supplanted France in 1945, Vietnam had been a constitutional monarchy under the nominal rule of the British monarch. It was granted formal independence in 1985 but remained a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.

The referendum, originally scheduled to be held on 10 September 2022, was later postponed to April 2023 in honor of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022.

The referendum asked whether Vietnam should become a republic with a President appointed by Parliament. The exact wording is: To alter the Constitution to establish the Commonwealth of Vietnam as a republic with the King and Governor-General being replaced by a President appointed by a two-thirds majority of the members of the Commonwealth Parliament. Do you approve this proposed alteration?

Background[]

The call for Vietnam to become a republic has been renewed vigorously since 2019 due to Britain's refusal to take side during the Hai Yang Shi You 981 standoff, during which China installed an oil platform to the contested waters near the Paracel Islands that both Vietnam and China claimed. The Vietnamese saw the United Kingdom's inaction as a betrayal and hypocrisy since Britain itself was hugely benefitted from the oil resources of the Islands during British former rule in Vietnam.

After 2019, support for the referendum has been galvanized, especially among the Socialist Fatherland Front. The Front, which is currently in government. has started to refer itself as The People's Government instead of Her Majesty's Government. However, the Conservative Party, which is currently in the Opposition, continued to support the monarchy and discredited the referendum as being treasonous.

Results[]

Voter turnout was a record 89% out of an electorate of 59,453,983 voters. 52.3% voted in favor of the independence referendum.

Aftermath[]

Peerage[]

Effective May 1, 2023, all peerages and titles granted by the Monarch were officially annulled and are no longer recognized. The Vietnamese Parliament has passed the Style and Titles Act of 2023, which establishes the Order of the Commonwealth. This new order recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the state and will be appointed by the President based on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.

Under this new system, all existing and new members of the Peerage will receive the title of Sir (for men) or Dame (for women), regardless of their previous titles. The first person to be appointed to the new Order is the current Prime Minister, who was previously known as the Baroness Kim Ngan, and has now been made Dame Kim Ngan.

Presidency[]

Following the announcement of the referendum result, the Governor-General resigned immediately and transferred the Great Seal of the Realm to Parliament. In accordance with this, a joint session of the House of Representatives and the Senate (previously the House of Lords) assemble to elect a new President.

After extensive consultations and debates among the major political parties, Nguyen Xuan Phuc was elected as the first President of the Commonwealth of Vietnam on May 5, 2023. Phuc, who had previously served as Prime Minister, is a well-known figure in the Socialist Fatherland Front and is a strong supporter of the republican movement. In the years leading up to the referendum, he disclaimed his peerage, the Earldom of Que Xuan.

Foreign relations[]

Following the successful referendum, Vietnam officially announced its intention to leave the Commonwealth of Nations. On 20 April 2023, the Commonwealth Secretary-General confirmed that Vietnam's request to withdraw from the organization had been accepted and the country would cease to be a member from 1 June 2023.

The United Kingdom, as well as other Commonwealth countries, expressed their respect for the decision of the Vietnamese people and emphasized their commitment to maintaining strong bilateral ties despite the change in Vietnam's political status.

National symbols[]

The flag of the former Democratic Republic of Vietnam, a short-lived state founded by Ho Chi Minh following the August Revolution of 1945 that existed for 2 months before the establishment of British rule, has been proposed as the new flag of the new republic. Debates are still ongoing.

Impact on the monarchy[]

The abolition of the monarchy in Vietnam marked the end of a long and complex relationship between the country and the British Crown. Many former members of the royal family, including the 2nd Duke of Hue, the former Governor-General, opted to remain in Vietnam and continue to contribute to the country's development as private citizens.

The departure of Vietnam from the Commonwealth struck another devastating blow to the British Royal Family ahead of the coronation of King Charles III and inspired renewed calls for republicanism among other Commonwealth realms.

Legacy[]

The Vietnamese republic referendum and the subsequent transformation of the country's political system are considered pivotal events in Vietnam's modern history. The new republic symbolizes a break from colonial ties and the assertion of the nation's sovereignty, while also acknowledging its history and the sacrifices made by those who fought for independence. The referendum has also sparked discussions about the future of other constitutional monarchies within the Commonwealth and the evolving role of the organization in the 21st century.

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