By L.D.
Cambodge Soir Hedbo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the article in French
Barring unexpected events, elected opposition MPs would boycott the National Assembly inaugural session. Preliminary names of the leaders of the upcoming NA are starting to leak out.
The 26 SRP MPs and the 3 HRP MPs would boycott the inauguration session of the NA on 24 September, barring a last minute surprise.
The SRP MPs who have not yet recognized the results of the general election, and who were not able to modify the NA internal rules, have announced that they will visit their districts on 24 September to explain their decision to the voters.
On their end, the three HRP elected MPs announced that they are still waiting for an answer from King Norodom Sihamoni whom they had asked the authorization of swear in separately, along with the SRP MPs but apart from the CPP MPs who belong to a party which cheated during the 27 July election ballot.
For the time being, the king only informed that he received the opposition letter. For Norodom Sihamoni, who ascended to the throne in October 2004, this is his first ceremony to administer the MPs’ oath. There is no doubt that he will be present at the inaugural session and he even sent out letters convoking the 123 MPs for 24 September.
According to Article 76 of the constitution, a quorum of 120 MPs is required for the inaugural session. However, during the last few weeks, Prime minister Hun Sen said on many occasions that this rule would not apply in case of organized boycott by the opposition.
On its end, the CPP had already announced its intention to propose candidates for each NA top position (president and vice-presidents of the NA as well as for the NA committees).
Heng Samrin, the CPP honorific president and NA president, should keep his position without any problem, and the same goes for Nguon Nhel.
The second vice-presidency position would be attributed to another CPP heavy weight: Say Chhum, the CPP secretary-general.
As for the government composition, Khieu Kanharith, the minister of information, announced that only two parties would feature in it: the CPP and Funcinpec. Adjustments will also be planned in the event NRP MPs will join force with the CPP.
The 26 SRP MPs and the 3 HRP MPs would boycott the inauguration session of the NA on 24 September, barring a last minute surprise.
The SRP MPs who have not yet recognized the results of the general election, and who were not able to modify the NA internal rules, have announced that they will visit their districts on 24 September to explain their decision to the voters.
On their end, the three HRP elected MPs announced that they are still waiting for an answer from King Norodom Sihamoni whom they had asked the authorization of swear in separately, along with the SRP MPs but apart from the CPP MPs who belong to a party which cheated during the 27 July election ballot.
For the time being, the king only informed that he received the opposition letter. For Norodom Sihamoni, who ascended to the throne in October 2004, this is his first ceremony to administer the MPs’ oath. There is no doubt that he will be present at the inaugural session and he even sent out letters convoking the 123 MPs for 24 September.
According to Article 76 of the constitution, a quorum of 120 MPs is required for the inaugural session. However, during the last few weeks, Prime minister Hun Sen said on many occasions that this rule would not apply in case of organized boycott by the opposition.
On its end, the CPP had already announced its intention to propose candidates for each NA top position (president and vice-presidents of the NA as well as for the NA committees).
Heng Samrin, the CPP honorific president and NA president, should keep his position without any problem, and the same goes for Nguon Nhel.
The second vice-presidency position would be attributed to another CPP heavy weight: Say Chhum, the CPP secretary-general.
As for the government composition, Khieu Kanharith, the minister of information, announced that only two parties would feature in it: the CPP and Funcinpec. Adjustments will also be planned in the event NRP MPs will join force with the CPP.
