In North Korea, the .07 per cent opposition
The city-state of Ankh-Morpork, the main setting for Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels, has a novel form of democracy: “One Man, One Vote. The Patrician [the ruler] was the Man; he had the Vote.” It’s a highly efficient system with zero chance of the elected government failing to live up to the electorate’s expectations. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has developed an equally commendable model for parliamentary elections: In each constituency, the public gets to vote for the sole candidate. The system is liberal enough to accommodate dissent — one may cross out the name on the ballot. NOTA fans, please clap. Or else.
In an election held on March 15, the Workers’ Party of Korea won all 687 seats in the Supreme People’s Assembly, but only 99.93 per cent of the vote, down from 99.99 per cent in 2019. Much has been made of this drastic decline in vote share — are some brave souls raising their heads above the parapet? More likely, it’s because 99.93, in some small way, looks more convincing than 100. Other dictatorships allow the “tolerated opposition” to even bag a few seats for much the same reason.
The rituals of democracy tend to enjoy a pantomime existence even when irrelevant; the Supreme People’s Assembly is a case in point. As in Ankh-Morpork, there is really only one voter in North Korea. And, as the internet has just discovered, he is not only a “little rocket man” — as dubbed by a big rocket man — but also a girldad. He deserves 100 per cent of the vote.
- 1North Korea's Workers' Party of Korea securing all 687 seats in the Supreme People's Assembly with 99.93% of the vote exemplifies a totalitarian state's governance model. This system, where citizens vote for a sole candidate, fundamentally contradicts the principles of multi-party democracy and free and fair elections, crucial for a robust constitutional republic.
- 2North Korea's highly controlled political system, as evidenced by its recent "elections," contributes to its international isolation and strained diplomatic relations with democratic nations. Such practices often lead to global scrutiny regarding human rights and adherence to international covenants on civil and political rights, impacting its engagement with bodies like the UN.
- 3The North Korean electoral system, featuring a single candidate per constituency, starkly contrasts with constitutional democracies where electoral integrity is paramount. In India, the Election Commission ensures free and fair elections, upholding fundamental rights like freedom of expression and association under Article 19(1)(a) and (b), which are systematically suppressed in such totalitarian regimes.
- 4The absence of genuine political opposition in North Korea, where even a slight dip in vote share is noteworthy, reflects severe restrictions on social and economic freedoms. This totalitarian control often leads to a lack of innovation, economic stagnation, and a populace living under constant surveillance, impacting their overall quality of life and access to global opportunities.