Phnom Penh (FN), Jul. 19 – Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen said the 2023 general election is not only the competition among 18 political parties for the National Assembly seats, but also the competition between the 18 participating political parties with the extremists who want to ruin the election.

“For the 2023 general election, in addition to the competition among 18 political parties for the National Assembly seats, we still have competition between the 18 participating political parties with the extremists who want to ruin the election.

Extremists ordered by a convict fleeing from prison to a political party in the country have sought all means to destroy the democratic process by attempting to disrupt elections, such as campaigning to block people from voting and destroying the ballot etc.

On 23 July 2023, will the democratic forces participating in the election be more or less than the forces destroying democracy and the election? Let's wait and see.”

Following the failure to block people from going to vote, extremist group leader Sam Rainsy and his followers recently launched a new campaign to cast the spoiled ballot.

Article 142 (new) of law on amendment to election law, entered into force on 4 July 2023, stipulates that inciting or disturbing or blocking people not to vote or cast spoiled ballot is a violation to the laws and shall be punished with a fine between USD 1,250 to USD 5,000 excluding other criminal offenses.
=FRESH NEWS