Negotiations at Standstill Over New Government, Parties Say

Hang in there, CNRP. Patience is the key to success...

By Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer, October 1, 2013


PHNOM PENH - Cambodia’s government remains in deadlock, with the ruling and opposition parties still at odds over the formation of a new administration following July’s election.

Kem Sokha, vice president of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, told VOA Khmer that the two sides have “taken our stands against each other.”

The Rescue Party says it lost July’s election due to irregularities and fraud, winning 55 of 123 National Assembly seats. The remaining 68 seats went to the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, according to official results the Rescue Party has refused to recognize without a credible investigation into allegations of irregularities.




The CPP last month went forward with a National Assembly opening session that created a new administration, despite a boycott of the meetings by the opposition.

Cheam Yiep, a senior lawmaker for the ruling party, told VOA Khmer that there will be no formations of new committees to appease the opposition.

“We now have to talk about how to share positions in the National Assembly,” he said.

But the opposition claims it will not budge from its demands.

“We will keep claiming truth and justice for voters, and what we are seeing now in the proceedings of the new government and the National Assembly is not normal,” Kem Sokha said