Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on May 16 calledon eligible voters to cast their ballots in the upcoming general election.
In a Facebook post, PM Hun Sen appealed to all compatriots, especially youngpeople, to go to the polls on July 29.
He thanked the people for trusting his leadership and hoped they wouldcontinue voting for the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) in order toensure long-lasting peace and development.
PM Hun Sen’s call came after self-exiled former opposition leader SamRainsy and his group repeatedly called for people to boycott the election,giving the reason that the now-dissolved opposition Cambodia National RescueParty (CNRP) was not allowed to participate in the election.
In the forthcoming general election, Cambodian voters will elect 125 parliamentariansfor the 6th National Assembly. According to the National ElectionCommittee (NEC), five political parties, namely the ruling CPP, the FuncinpecParty, the Cambodian Youth Party, the Cambodian Nationality Party, and theKhmer National United Party, had been officially allowed to contest in theupcoming election.
NEC is considering the registration applications by other 15 politicalparties and the final number of the political parties joining the race will bereleased on May 21.
More than 8.3 million Cambodian people are eligible to cast theirballots in the July 29 election. The Cambodian National Police said around80,000 personnel will be deployed to maintain security for the election.
In the 2013 general election, eight political parties joined the race,in which the CPP won 68 seats against 55 seats for the then-CNRP in the123-seat National Assembly.
The CNRP was dissolved on November 16, 2017 by the Supreme Court afterits leader Kem Sokha, Sam Rainsy's successor, was arrested on September 3, 2017and charged with "treason" for conspiring with a foreign power in anattempt to overthrow the government.
Meanwhile, Sam Rainsy has been living in self-imposed exile in Francesince 2015 to avoid at least eight-year-prison sentence for defamation andincitement cases.-VNA
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