Elections Approaching For South Vietnam

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30666, 4 February 1965, Page 7

Elections Approaching For South Vietnam

(N.Z.P.A.- Reuter—Copyright) SAIGON, February 2. 1 he South Vietnam Government today published a law to reconvene the National Congress with the task of writing a constitution for the republic.

The law, which will establish the Congress as a provisional legislature, came as the various power groups tightened their ranks for the forthcoming elections. The two main political forces are the Army, under Lieutenant-General Nguyen Khanh, who led a bloodless military coup last Wednesday, and the Buddhists. Under the new law the Congress will be chosen by direct vote in the major cities and by an electoral college for the provinces. General Khanh was re-

ported to have nearly completed the task of forming a 20-member Army and People’s Council which will choose a new provisional Chief of State and Prime Minister. The armed forces will have more seats than any other group in the proposed council. This factor is seen as a virtual assurance that their candidates will get the two top executive jobs. The executives chosen by the council will hold their posts until a new Government is set up. Behind Scenes Political observers believe that although General Khanh may be able to sway the council into naming him Chief of State or Prime Minister, he may prefer to work behind the scenes because of previous bitter experiences. General Khanh was Prime Minister for about eight months last year but was

| forced to hand over power to a civilian Government after : violent Buddhist street | demonstrations against him. Under the electoral law, members of the electoral college to be set up by March 4 will be chosen by village elders and Government representatives in the villages. The elections will be held on March 21. All Vietnamese citizens aged 18 or above, except criminals, can vote.