 Diệm reportedly saw the poll as an opportunity to legitimise him as a symbol of Vietnamese democracy , so that he could frame and justify his refusal to participate in national elections as a struggle between freedom and communist authoritarianism . Diệm asserted that South Vietnam would eventually reunify the nation under a democratic administration and liberate their northern compatriots from communist oppression , and championed the referendum as a first step in nurturing democracy . His support base was to use this as a means of justifying the deposal of Bảo Đại , citing past decisions that according to them , were pro @-@ communist . 
