General elections were held in Cambodia on Sunday, 29 July 2018 to elect members of the sixth National Assembly. Polling stations opened at 07:00 and closed at 15:00. The number of registered voters has decreased for the first time since 1993 and was down 13% from the 2013 general elections.
With the absence of a credible opposition, the elections were viewed as a formality to effectively solidify de facto one-party rule in the country, and were dismissed as sham elections by the international community.[1][2] They resulted in a widely expected landslide victory for the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP), which won all 125 seats in the National Assembly.[3] Despite calls to boycott the election, voter turnout was alleged to be 83.02%.
The previous elections in July 2013 saw a fourth consecutive victory for the CPP, which won 68 seats in the National Assembly, with the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) claiming the remaining 55 seats. Despite their huge gain in seats, the opposition decried the results and accused the CPP of poll fraud. As a result, the CNRP boycotted parliament in September 2013 and vowed not to enter parliament until electoral reforms had been made.[4] The disputed results led to the outbreak of widespread anti-government protests.[5]
On 10 April 2014, Prime Minister Hun Sen agreed to hold elections five months early in February 2018. However, the opposition rejected the suggestion, demanding elections be held as early as 2015 or mid-2016.[6] On 22 July 2014, the political crisis officially ended and the opposition agreed to take their seats in parliament. It was also agreed that the next elections would be held in 2018.[7] However, CNRP leader Sam Rainsy was stripped from parliamentary immunity, and then barred from returning to Cambodia after leaving the country.[8] His request for a royal pardon was blocked by Sen,[9] and in December 2016, his deputy Kem Sokha replaced him as Minority Leader.[10]
On 11 February 2017, Rainsy resigned as President of the CNRP, and was succeeded by Sokha.[11] On 3 September, Sokha was arrested and charged with treason, raising questions about the party's future.[12] Another act of repression by the government was the closure of the Cambodia Daily newspaper.[13] On 16 November 2017, the CNRP was forcibly dissolved, eliminating any real challenge to the long-ruling CPP.[1] Its seats in parliament were distributed to three other parties.[14]
The legitimacy of the 2018 elections was called into question by various commentators and media outlets.[15][16] There were a record number of invalid ballots, accounting for 8.6% of the total votes cast, more than any votes received by a political party barring the CPP.[17] Also, in areas away from the country's capital, voters claimed that CPP were using intimidation tactics in order to influence the elections' results.[18]
Various international governments including Australia, Canada, the European Union, Japan and the United States dismissed the election results, and threatened to impose sanctions on Hun Sen's government.[19]
^ ab"Supreme Court rules to dissolve CNRP". The Phnom Penh Post. 16 November 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
^"Rights Groups Call Out Cambodia's 'Sham' Election". VOA Cambodia. Voice of America. 29 July 2018.
^"Hun Sen's CPP wins all parliamentary seats in Cambodia election". Al Jazeera. 15 August 2018.
^Heng Reaksmey and Men Kimseng (7 March 2014). "Opposition Standing Firm on Election Reform Demand". Voice of America. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
^Dara, Mech (23 December 2013). . The Cambodia Daily. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
^"Hun Sen Agrees to Hold Early Election, Wants Deal Signed Before King". Radio Free Asia. 10 April 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
^"Political deadlock broken". The Phnom Penh Post. 22 July 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
^. The Cambodia Daily. 21 December 2015. Archived from the original on 8 August 2019. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
^. The Cambodia Daily. 14 October 2016. Archived from the original on 8 August 2019. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
^. The Cambodia Daily. 6 December 2016. Archived from the original on 8 August 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
^Prak Chan Thul (11 February 2017). "Cambodia opposition leader Rainsy resigns from party". Reuters. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
^"Cambodia Arrests Opposition Leader, Accusing Him of Treason". The New York Times. 3 September 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
^"Cambodia's government is preparing for elections with repression". The Economist. 7 September 2017.
^"List of new National Assembly members approved". The Phnom Penh Post. 24 November 2017. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
^"Cambodia election: Ruling party claims landslide in vote with no main opposition". BBC News. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
^Beech, Hannah. "Cambodia Votes for a Leader, With the Result Predetermined by One". New York Times. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
^"Spoilt Cambodian ballot papers seen as protest over 'sham' election". Reuters. 30 July 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
^Cambodia's election condemned as a 'sham' CNN July 29, 2018
^"International Community Condemns Cambodia Elections as 'Setback to Democracy'". Voice of America. 30 July 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
^"China says foreigners should not interfere in Cambodia after election". Reuters. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
^"Former Cambodia Opposition Rejects Election Results". Voice of America. 30 July 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
August 21, 2023
2018, cambodian, general, election, general, elections, were, held, cambodia, sunday, july, 2018, elect, members, sixth, national, assembly, polling, stations, opened, closed, number, registered, voters, decreased, first, time, since, 1993, down, from, 2013, g. General elections were held in Cambodia on Sunday 29 July 2018 to elect members of the sixth National Assembly Polling stations opened at 07 00 and closed at 15 00 The number of registered voters has decreased for the first time since 1993 and was down 13 from the 2013 general elections 2018 Cambodian general election 2013 29 July 2018 2023 All 125 seats in the National Assembly63 seats needed for a majorityRegistered8 386 217 13 33 Turnout83 02 13 41pp First party Leader Hun SenParty CPPLast election 48 83 68 seatsSeats won 125Seat change 57Popular vote 4 889 113Percentage 76 85 Swing 28 02ppPrime Minister before electionHun SenCPP Elected Prime Minister Hun SenCPPWith the absence of a credible opposition the elections were viewed as a formality to effectively solidify de facto one party rule in the country and were dismissed as sham elections by the international community 1 2 They resulted in a widely expected landslide victory for the ruling Cambodian People s Party CPP which won all 125 seats in the National Assembly 3 Despite calls to boycott the election voter turnout was alleged to be 83 02 Contents 1 Background 2 Results 3 Reactions 4 ReferencesBackground EditThe previous elections in July 2013 saw a fourth consecutive victory for the CPP which won 68 seats in the National Assembly with the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party CNRP claiming the remaining 55 seats Despite their huge gain in seats the opposition decried the results and accused the CPP of poll fraud As a result the CNRP boycotted parliament in September 2013 and vowed not to enter parliament until electoral reforms had been made 4 The disputed results led to the outbreak of widespread anti government protests 5 On 10 April 2014 Prime Minister Hun Sen agreed to hold elections five months early in February 2018 However the opposition rejected the suggestion demanding elections be held as early as 2015 or mid 2016 6 On 22 July 2014 the political crisis officially ended and the opposition agreed to take their seats in parliament It was also agreed that the next elections would be held in 2018 7 However CNRP leader Sam Rainsy was stripped from parliamentary immunity and then barred from returning to Cambodia after leaving the country 8 His request for a royal pardon was blocked by Sen 9 and in December 2016 his deputy Kem Sokha replaced him as Minority Leader 10 On 11 February 2017 Rainsy resigned as President of the CNRP and was succeeded by Sokha 11 On 3 September Sokha was arrested and charged with treason raising questions about the party s future 12 Another act of repression by the government was the closure of the Cambodia Daily newspaper 13 On 16 November 2017 the CNRP was forcibly dissolved eliminating any real challenge to the long ruling CPP 1 Its seats in parliament were distributed to three other parties 14 Results Edit PartyVotes Seats Cambodian People s Party4 889 11376 85125 57FUNCINPEC374 5105 8900League for Democracy Party309 3644 8600Khmer Will Party212 8693 350NewKhmer National United Party99 3771 560NewGrassroots Democratic Party70 5671 110NewBeehive Social Democratic Party56 0240 880NewKhmer Anti Poverty Party55 2980 8700Khmer United Party48 7850 770NewCambodian Nationality Party45 3700 7100Khmer Republican Party41 6310 6500Cambodian Youth Party39 3330 620NewDharmacracy Party29 0600 460NewKhmer Economic Development Party23 2550 3700Khmer Rise Party22 0020 350NewPonleu Thmey Party13 5090 210NewCambodia Indigenous Peoples Democracy Party10 1970 160NewOur Motherland Party9 1740 140NewRepublican Democracy Party8 5910 1400Reaksmey Khemara Party4 2120 070NewTotal6 362 241100 00125 2Valid votes6 362 24191 45Invalid blank votes594 6598 55Total votes6 956 900100 00Registered voters turnout8 380 21783 02Source National Election CommitteeReactions EditThe legitimacy of the 2018 elections was called into question by various commentators and media outlets 15 16 There were a record number of invalid ballots accounting for 8 6 of the total votes cast more than any votes received by a political party barring the CPP 17 Also in areas away from the country s capital voters claimed that CPP were using intimidation tactics in order to influence the elections results 18 Various international governments including Australia Canada the European Union Japan and the United States dismissed the election results and threatened to impose sanctions on Hun Sen s government 19 The governments of China the Philippines Laos and Thailand were among those to congratulate the CPP on their victory 20 Meanwhile the former opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party accused the National Election Committee of misleading the number of voter turnout 21 References Edit a b Supreme Court rules to dissolve CNRP The Phnom Penh Post 16 November 2017 Retrieved 16 November 2017 Rights Groups Call Out Cambodia s Sham Election VOA Cambodia Voice of America 29 July 2018 Hun Sen s CPP wins all parliamentary seats in Cambodia election Al Jazeera 15 August 2018 Heng Reaksmey and Men Kimseng 7 March 2014 Opposition Standing Firm on Election Reform Demand Voice of America Retrieved 18 July 2014 Dara Mech 23 December 2013 CNRP Holds Biggest Demonstration in Decades The Cambodia Daily Archived from the original on 6 January 2014 Retrieved 18 July 2014 Hun Sen Agrees to Hold Early Election Wants Deal Signed Before King Radio Free Asia 10 April 2014 Retrieved 9 July 2014 Political deadlock broken The Phnom Penh Post 22 July 2014 Retrieved 24 July 2014 Rainsy Pledges to Return Home Before 2018 National Election The Cambodia Daily 21 December 2015 Archived from the original on 8 August 2019 Retrieved 24 November 2016 Hun Sen Rejects CNRP Request for Pardons The Cambodia Daily 14 October 2016 Archived from the original on 8 August 2019 Retrieved 24 November 2016 Sokha to Replace Rainsy in Parliamentary Position The Cambodia Daily 6 December 2016 Archived from the original on 8 August 2019 Retrieved 8 December 2016 Prak Chan Thul 11 February 2017 Cambodia opposition leader Rainsy resigns from party Reuters Retrieved 12 February 2017 Cambodia Arrests Opposition Leader Accusing Him of Treason The New York Times 3 September 2017 Retrieved 8 September 2017 Cambodia s government is preparing for elections with repression The Economist 7 September 2017 List of new National Assembly members approved The Phnom Penh Post 24 November 2017 Retrieved 24 November 2017 Cambodia election Ruling party claims landslide in vote with no main opposition BBC News Retrieved 29 July 2018 Beech Hannah Cambodia Votes for a Leader With the Result Predetermined by One New York Times Retrieved 29 July 2018 Spoilt Cambodian ballot papers seen as protest over sham election Reuters 30 July 2018 Retrieved 30 July 2018 Cambodia s election condemned as a sham CNN July 29 2018 International Community Condemns Cambodia Elections as Setback to Democracy Voice of America 30 July 2018 Retrieved 31 July 2018 China says foreigners should not interfere in Cambodia after election Reuters 2 August 2018 Retrieved 3 August 2018 Former Cambodia Opposition Rejects Election Results Voice of America 30 July 2018 Retrieved 3 August 2018 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 2018 Cambodian general election amp oldid 1169945224, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
