The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) has agreed to meet with officials from the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) on March 17 to discuss the reform of national elections.
Mao Monivan, an opposition member of Cambodia’s Joint-Committee on Electoral Reforms, said the decision came after the CPP agreed the two sides will discuss the reforms of the National Election Committee (NEC) at the upcoming talks.
According to the CNRP’s proposal, the upcoming meeting will discuss the independent status of the NEC and its members must be approved by two-thirds of the total number of Cambodia’s parliamentary members.
Earlier, Bin Chhin, who led the CPP’s negotiation team, asserted the joint committee will review the candidate and voter registration process and a draft law on the financing of political parties.
He said he believes that the two parties will reach an agreement on an electoral reform mechanism which will create a premise for the next elections.
A political row between the CPP and the CNRP has persisted since the July 2013 polls. The election results showed that the CPP won 68 parliamentary seats against the 55 seats taken by the CNRP.
Claiming serious irregularities during the poll, the CNRP refused to accept the results and demanded the establishment of an independent committee to investigate the election outcome. It has boycotted parliament and held many protests demanding for a re-election, all rejected by the CPP.-VNA
Mao Monivan, an opposition member of Cambodia’s Joint-Committee on Electoral Reforms, said the decision came after the CPP agreed the two sides will discuss the reforms of the National Election Committee (NEC) at the upcoming talks.
According to the CNRP’s proposal, the upcoming meeting will discuss the independent status of the NEC and its members must be approved by two-thirds of the total number of Cambodia’s parliamentary members.
Earlier, Bin Chhin, who led the CPP’s negotiation team, asserted the joint committee will review the candidate and voter registration process and a draft law on the financing of political parties.
He said he believes that the two parties will reach an agreement on an electoral reform mechanism which will create a premise for the next elections.
A political row between the CPP and the CNRP has persisted since the July 2013 polls. The election results showed that the CPP won 68 parliamentary seats against the 55 seats taken by the CNRP.
Claiming serious irregularities during the poll, the CNRP refused to accept the results and demanded the establishment of an independent committee to investigate the election outcome. It has boycotted parliament and held many protests demanding for a re-election, all rejected by the CPP.-VNA
