President of the Cambodian National Assembly Samdech Heng Samrin speaks at a meeting of the NA. (Photo: VNA) Phnom Penh (VNA) – The sixth National Assembly (NA) of Cambodia on December 13 approved the revised Law on Political Parties, paving the way for opposition politicians banned from politics, including some Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) members, to return.
With all 115 votes, the Cambodian parliament passed the amendment of Article 45 of the law, adding the content that “any persons who are banned by the Supreme Court from doing political activities will be granted their full rights to do politics after passing the validity of the ban defined by the Supreme Court’s verdict or in case those persons are granted amnesty by the King at the request of the Prime Minister via the Interior Minister”.
Earlier, on December 12, at a meeting with workers in Kampong Speu province, Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen said the amendment of the Law on Political Parties does not target a certain party but applies for all parties in Cambodia in the future.
Those who wish to restore their political rights must directly submit a petition to the Prime Minister, via the Interior Minister, and then the PM will consider the petition and submit it to the King for amnesty.
In November 2017, the Supreme Court of Cambodia issued a verdict on dissolving the CNRP and banning its 118 members from political activities for five years, after the party’s leader, Kem Sokha, was arrested for treason.
The 6th NA of Cambodia has all 125 seats held by the ruling Cambodia People’s Party (CPP).-VNA
VNA
