Phnom Penh (FN), Jun. 24 – Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen said the adoption of the draft law on the amendment to the election law backfired the opposition.

The premier spoke on Saturday morning (Jun 24) during his meeting with some 20,000 workers in Phnom Penh.

“One shall not ask why the National Assembly approved the draft law. Ask yourself, what did you do?” the premier underscored.

On 23 June 2023, the National Assembly approved the draft law on the amendment to the election law, which reforms the right to stand as a candidate at the election.

The initiative to amend the election law was made in response to opposition groups’ movement, calling people not to go to vote.

The draft law on the amendment of the election law is designed for individuals who wish to stand for election, which stated that they must go to vote before they could stand for election.

In addition to setting conditions for individuals to stand for election, the draft law on amendments to the election law also stipulates fines and penalties for individuals who disrupt and obstruct the voter registration process.

According to the Royal Government's statement, the proposed amendment was made in accordance with the provisions of Cambodian constitution, especially the fifth paragraph of the new Article 34 (1), which states that “provision for revoking the right to vote and the right to stand for election shall be determined by law.”

At the same time, the proposed amendment does not affect the "voting rights" of the Cambodian people, which are guaranteed by the constitution and the laws in Cambodia.

“Going to the polls” or “not going to the polls” is still the right of the Cambodian people and is not an obligation that forces people to go to the polls like some liberal democracies in the world.
=FRESH NEWS