CNRP President Kem Sokha speaks at the parade of his party (Photo: VNA) Phnom Penh (VNA) – The campaign for the communal elections in Cambodia finished on June 2, two days ahead of the June 4 elections.
There are 12 parties running for the elections, but the ruling Cambodia People’s Party (CPP) and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) still stood out in the campaign, which began on May 20.
On the last day of the campaign, CPP gathered up to 150,000 supporters in an eastern suburb of Phnom Penh, compared to about 60,000 people on the first day. Meanwhile, CNRP mobilised some 50,000 supporters in the west of the capital city on June 2, compared to 10,000 people on the opening day.
This was the first time since the elections in 1998 that CPP President Hun Sen, who is also the Cambodian Prime Minister, joined supporters in a gathering and parade. He also delivered a speech to call for their votes for CPP to maintain peace and development.
CNRP President Kem Sokha also attended his party’s gathering on June 2 and called for votes to change the leadership from the grassroots level.
This time’s communal elections take place amid many political changes in Cambodia, especially after the 2013 general elections, after which CPP held only 68 of the 123 seats in the National Assembly and the remaining belonged to CNRP.
CPP is forecast to gain a narrow victory in the 2017 ward/commune elections while the opposition party is striving for the best result to prepare for the general elections next year.-VNA
VNA
