PHNOM PENH: Cambodia’s strongman Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday vowed to establish a government under his leadership despite allegations by the opposition party of massive electoral fraud.
Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) on Sunday claimed it had secured an estimated 68 of the 123 lower house seats, shading the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) which won 55.
The CNRP has rejected the results, citing widespread voting irregularities, and has vowed to press for nationwide protests unless an independent probe is launched.
According to the constitution, the National Assembly must have “at least 120 members” and hold its first session within 60 days of the election. It will leave the Cambodian People’s Party well short by its own reckoning of the seats if the opposition chose to boycott parliament.
But in a defiant radio address yesterday the premier said his party has an “absolute majority” and will “proceed to set up the leadership of the parliament and government. They will not wait for you (the opposition)”.
“There will be no stalemate... I am the Prime Minister. I will continue to be the Prime Minister. The law does not specify how many lawmakers are needed for the first meeting.”
He also urged the CNRP to join talks over participating in the next parliament. The first parliament will be convened by late September.
The CNRP has already called for a United Nations-backed investigation into allegations that 1.25 million legitimate voters were culled from the electoral roll. While more than one million “ghost names” and a further 200,000 duplicated names were added to the list.
Rainsy has said his party had in fact won a majority of 63 seats and repeated a vow to prevent the Cambodian People’s Party “stealing victory”.
The opposition said its leader Sam Rainsy will announce the “Cambodia National Rescue Party ’s stand related to election results” on Tuesday. AFP
