Cambodia decides to give more power to opposition party

Cambodia's National Assembly on March 20 passed a new Election Law that gives more power to the main opposition party, the Cambodia Daily reported.

The new election law allows the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) to join Prime Minister Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) in forming the National Election Committee (NEC). Membership in the NEC has been a major source of conflict between the two parties in recent times.

CPP Party campaigning in Phnom Penh in 2013 - Photo: Minh Quang

After the 2013 election, which the CPP won, the CNRP accused the ruling party of “dominating the NEC and committing fraud.” The opposition party organized massive protests, causing long-term instability in Cambodia while CNRP lawmakers boycotted the National Assembly for nearly a year.

According to the newly passed Election Law, the new NEC will be established in April to prepare for the 2017 general election. Each party, the CPP and CNRP, will have four members, while the ninth member will be an independent figure agreed upon by both parties./.

According to VOV