Trend News (Azerbaijan)
Cambodia's estimated 8 million voters headed to the polls Sunday for the first national elections in five years, dpa reported.
The National Election Committee says the elections are the most peaceful and least violent since democratic polls recommenced after the Khmer Rouge era in 1993.
A tense border stand-off with Thailand which has seen troops mobilized is not expected to unduly influence the outcome, although analysts predicted it may increase voter turnout. Voting is not compulsory in Cambodia.
The lack of impact of the border dispute over an ancient temple and surrounding land is because despite nationalistic sentiment running high, Cambodian political parties typically register partisan supporters months or even years in advance.
"If you are Khmer, you love your country no matter what party you support, so people are not going to change their vote because of the border dispute," election committee spokesman Em Sopath said Saturday.
Prime Minister Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party is expected to further increase its dominance, with the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, the royalist Funcinpec party, the Human Rights Party and the Norodom Ranariddh Party expected to vie for the remaining seats.
The Cambodian People's Party, boasting 5 million members, currently holds 73 of the 123 parliamentary seats and believes it can snare 80 seats Sunday.
Funcinpec currently holds 26 seats, and the Sam Rainsy Party 24.
Hun Sen has ruled for 23 years, but is enjoying a new surge in popularity due to Cambodia's rapid economic growth, which the International Monetary Fund placed at around 10.5 percent in 2007.
The National Election Committee says the elections are the most peaceful and least violent since democratic polls recommenced after the Khmer Rouge era in 1993.
A tense border stand-off with Thailand which has seen troops mobilized is not expected to unduly influence the outcome, although analysts predicted it may increase voter turnout. Voting is not compulsory in Cambodia.
The lack of impact of the border dispute over an ancient temple and surrounding land is because despite nationalistic sentiment running high, Cambodian political parties typically register partisan supporters months or even years in advance.
"If you are Khmer, you love your country no matter what party you support, so people are not going to change their vote because of the border dispute," election committee spokesman Em Sopath said Saturday.
Prime Minister Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party is expected to further increase its dominance, with the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, the royalist Funcinpec party, the Human Rights Party and the Norodom Ranariddh Party expected to vie for the remaining seats.
The Cambodian People's Party, boasting 5 million members, currently holds 73 of the 123 parliamentary seats and believes it can snare 80 seats Sunday.
Funcinpec currently holds 26 seats, and the Sam Rainsy Party 24.
Hun Sen has ruled for 23 years, but is enjoying a new surge in popularity due to Cambodia's rapid economic growth, which the International Monetary Fund placed at around 10.5 percent in 2007.
1 comment:
I feel so sorry for the Khmer people and the opposition party Sam Rainsy.
Sam Rainsy did a great job, but the CPP has always used absolute power to destroy the opposition party.
I cannot stand with HRP of Kem Sokha, Mrs Rasmey of Funcenpec and the jerk Rannarish.
These three are helping Hun Sen behind, they may be paid to take away the votes from Sam Rainsy.
It is not about helping the nation it is about money and fame why Kem Sokha, Ms. Rasmey and Rannaridh each created party.
Why these Khmers like Kem Sopkha, Rannaridh and Mrs. Rasmey are so fuck up? When will they learn what is "Unity"? If Mrs Rasmey is so dumb because most Lao are dumb, and negro-Indian like Rannaridh is too, and how about Kem Sokha? May be Kem Sokha was Khmer Viet Minh.
I projected Sam Rainsy winner in 2008, but as long as CPP controls no chance for others to win with a fairness.
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