Cambodia's local election starts polling, yet in leisure style for Hun Sen
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Sunday cast his vote in a style of leisure and casualness, with rare selection of a short-sleeve shirt sprinkled with colorful flower designs.
However, the kingdom's second ever Commune Councils Election should be a fierce fight in essence, as 102,266 candidates from 12 political parties, including Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP), are competing for 11,353 seats in 1,621 councils and more than 7 million eligible voters will cast their ballots for their favorites from 07:30 a.m. to 03:00 p.m. in 14,428 polling stations nationwide.
Possibly out of consideration of the fuss at the polling station in the Kandal Province Teacher Training Center, about 20 kilometers to the south of Phnom Penh, Hun Sen adopted a low-tone attitude, declining the invitation to be the first voter within around and thus making room for the voters coming here ahead of him and his wife Bun Rany.
Later, he registered his name and cast his ballot quietly, keeping waving to the photographers around him.
"Today, I can't say to you, because it is the Commune Councils Election Day," he told reporters after stepping out of the ballot room, obviously attempting to highlight his compliance with the rule that prime minister is not allow to speak during the voting day in order to avoid any imparity.
Minister of Planning and CPP member Chhay Than, also appearing in the same polling station, told Xinhua that "the Commune Councils Election is very important for the Cambodian people in the process of basic democracy, liberty and share of power from the top to the bottom."
"This time people have their will to choose their local authorities that they like," he added.
Meanwhile, Sokhuy Zhong, chief reporter of Cambodia's Chinese-language newspaper the Jian Hua Daily, told Xinhua that the CPP is widely expected to score a landslide victory during the election, while the opposition Sam Rainsy Party has the potential to become the next winner ahead of the co-ruling Funcinpec Party and the newly-established Norodom Ranariddh Party.
"The other parties are just small shooters, weighing unnoticeably in the process," he added.
While queuing at the polling station in the training center, Meoung Vesna, 45, told Xinhua that he will vote for those serving the people's benefit and not making business to the people's disadvantage.
Ra Mony, 40, told Xinhua that she, as an experienced voter, will try to elect a commune council that can help develop the local community.
A man told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that "I'm happy to exert my rights as a citizen. I'll vote for the CPP, for it can build our country better."
Sok Sopheap, 35-year-old security guard for the polling station, told Xinhua that the voters know well about the rules, so the polling has been in order since it started in the morning.
According to a press release from the National Election Committee (NEC), preliminary results will be announced at 07:00 p. m. local time on Sunday and the official results on April 24.
This has been the second ever commune councils election since the Kingdom of Cambodia was established in 1993. It lays the groundwork for the general election in 2008, which will elect the fourth ever government of the country.
Source: Xinhua
However, the kingdom's second ever Commune Councils Election should be a fierce fight in essence, as 102,266 candidates from 12 political parties, including Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP), are competing for 11,353 seats in 1,621 councils and more than 7 million eligible voters will cast their ballots for their favorites from 07:30 a.m. to 03:00 p.m. in 14,428 polling stations nationwide.
Possibly out of consideration of the fuss at the polling station in the Kandal Province Teacher Training Center, about 20 kilometers to the south of Phnom Penh, Hun Sen adopted a low-tone attitude, declining the invitation to be the first voter within around and thus making room for the voters coming here ahead of him and his wife Bun Rany.
Later, he registered his name and cast his ballot quietly, keeping waving to the photographers around him.
"Today, I can't say to you, because it is the Commune Councils Election Day," he told reporters after stepping out of the ballot room, obviously attempting to highlight his compliance with the rule that prime minister is not allow to speak during the voting day in order to avoid any imparity.
Minister of Planning and CPP member Chhay Than, also appearing in the same polling station, told Xinhua that "the Commune Councils Election is very important for the Cambodian people in the process of basic democracy, liberty and share of power from the top to the bottom."
"This time people have their will to choose their local authorities that they like," he added.
Meanwhile, Sokhuy Zhong, chief reporter of Cambodia's Chinese-language newspaper the Jian Hua Daily, told Xinhua that the CPP is widely expected to score a landslide victory during the election, while the opposition Sam Rainsy Party has the potential to become the next winner ahead of the co-ruling Funcinpec Party and the newly-established Norodom Ranariddh Party.
"The other parties are just small shooters, weighing unnoticeably in the process," he added.
While queuing at the polling station in the training center, Meoung Vesna, 45, told Xinhua that he will vote for those serving the people's benefit and not making business to the people's disadvantage.
Ra Mony, 40, told Xinhua that she, as an experienced voter, will try to elect a commune council that can help develop the local community.
A man told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that "I'm happy to exert my rights as a citizen. I'll vote for the CPP, for it can build our country better."
Sok Sopheap, 35-year-old security guard for the polling station, told Xinhua that the voters know well about the rules, so the polling has been in order since it started in the morning.
According to a press release from the National Election Committee (NEC), preliminary results will be announced at 07:00 p. m. local time on Sunday and the official results on April 24.
This has been the second ever commune councils election since the Kingdom of Cambodia was established in 1993. It lays the groundwork for the general election in 2008, which will elect the fourth ever government of the country.
Source: Xinhua
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