The ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) failed to reach any agreements on electoral reforms during the fourth meeting of their working group on March 24.
Speaking at separate press conferences following the meeting that lasted just one hour, head of the CNRP delegation Son Chhay and head of the CPP delegation Bin Chhin said the talks got stuck as both sides disagreed on discussion points.
The CNRP side proposed focusing discussion on the reform of the National Election Commission (NEC), while the CPP side underlined the need to give importance to all the 14 points agreed at the third meeting on March 17.
At the press conference, the CNRP called for the organisation of a summit meeting between CNRP President Sam Rainsy and Prime Minister Hun Sen pertaining to post-election disagreements.
Son Chhay said the CNRP’s proposal aims to bring together the two leaders at a dialogue on key points that both parties could not make a decision.
He emphasised that his party would join the parliament only when the ruling party pledges a re-election and electoral reforms.
However, the CPP delegation’s head Bin Chhin ruled out the proposals, reasoning that CNRP and CPP officials still disagree on electoral reforms.
The CPP-CNRP working group has held four meetings since March 3, only issuing joint statements at the meetings on March 3 and March 17.
The CNRP again requested a re-election while the CPP said the constitution does not allow it when the parliament has been operating normally for nearly eight months since the election on July 28, 2013.
The CNRP has not participated in Parliament for nearly eight months since the polls last year. 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
Speaking at separate press conferences following the meeting that lasted just one hour, head of the CNRP delegation Son Chhay and head of the CPP delegation Bin Chhin said the talks got stuck as both sides disagreed on discussion points.
The CNRP side proposed focusing discussion on the reform of the National Election Commission (NEC), while the CPP side underlined the need to give importance to all the 14 points agreed at the third meeting on March 17.
At the press conference, the CNRP called for the organisation of a summit meeting between CNRP President Sam Rainsy and Prime Minister Hun Sen pertaining to post-election disagreements.
Son Chhay said the CNRP’s proposal aims to bring together the two leaders at a dialogue on key points that both parties could not make a decision.
He emphasised that his party would join the parliament only when the ruling party pledges a re-election and electoral reforms.
However, the CPP delegation’s head Bin Chhin ruled out the proposals, reasoning that CNRP and CPP officials still disagree on electoral reforms.
The CPP-CNRP working group has held four meetings since March 3, only issuing joint statements at the meetings on March 3 and March 17.
The CNRP again requested a re-election while the CPP said the constitution does not allow it when the parliament has been operating normally for nearly eight months since the election on July 28, 2013.
The CNRP has not participated in Parliament for nearly eight months since the polls last year. 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
