Hidebound Era

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The Hidebound Era is an era of 20th century Quenminese political history that is heavily defined by reactionary, traditional conservative and authoritarian politics advanced by the governments of Nguyễn Công Thịnh Bảo and Đỗ Kim Ngữ. It began with the impeachment of the previous liberal prime minister Thạch Liễng Chánh in 1951, and ended with the resignation of Ngữ in 1975.

The primary cause for Chánh's impeachment was his promotion of what was perceived prominently by the Nationalist and Yellow Dragon parties as radical communist principles. Despite their mutual support for Chánh in dismantling the fascist institutions of the Golden Nation Party, both parties began to voice their opposition for the prime minister for the latter's intention of implementing socialist-inspired economic policies and liberal cultural laws, which contrasted with their free market and conservative views. Chánh was impeached on 22 February 1951 due to his apparent mismanagement that caused the Quenminese economic decline of 1950-51. A day after, an election was called with the Nationalists and Yellow Dragons gaining the most seats in the Supreme Assembly via a political coalition named the United Conservative Movement for a Free and Prosperous Nation. Nationalist politician Nguyễn Công Thịnh Bảo was subsequently appointed Prime Minister with unanimous support.

While Bảo preserved some policies implemented by Chánh, he used his office to promote corporate capitalism and traditional conservativism. Bảo's economic policies strengthened and boost the Quenminese economy, however his repressions against left-wing parties and organizations, and prevalent media censorship would lead him to establish institutions whose powers would be reminiscent to those from the Quocvangist regime. Eventually, on 18 July 1967, Bảo would be assassinated by an underground communist organization, and martial law would be implemented throughout the country during the interim ministry of Hoàng Thường Kiệt.

Bảo's financial minister Đỗ Kim Ngữ was elected on 15 January 1968. Unlike her predecessor, Ngữ was relatively lenient, and on her first years in office, she dismantled Bảo's several authoritarian policies and institutions, terming her tenure Thư Giãn. Ngữ attempted to reimburse the Quenminese economy to its previous state, but with little or temporary success. Coupled with increasing mismanagement and corruption, the rest of her tenure observed exacerbating instability, with the 1973 Quenmin Uprisings proving a serious consequence. Political backlash towards the government from both domestic and foreign intensified after international exposure of the civil violence, prompting Ngữ to resign on 16 June 1975, and was succeeded by Lý Thái Duy.

Background

Golden Nation Era

Thạch Liễng Chánh and Tự Do Hóa

Thạch Liễng Chánh's impeachment

Nguyễn Công Thịnh Bảo ministry

Bảo's assassination and interim ministry

Đỗ Kim Ngữ ministry

Because of her lenient stance on rigid right-wing control, her tenure was marked as Thư Giãn ("Relaxation").

1973 uprisings and Ngữ's resignation

Legacy