Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, a member of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), proudly displays his inked finger alongside his wife Bun Rany after casting his vote at a polling station in Takhmua, Kandal province, Cambodia on July 23, 2023. As the counting of ballots begins, it is widely expected that Hun Sen’s party will secure a landslide victory due to the suppression of opposition. Critics argue that this has undermined the democratic process in Cambodia. The European Union, the United States, and other Western countries refrained from sending observers, stating that the election did not meet the necessary conditions for being considered free and fair. Instead, international officials from Russia, China, and Guinea-Bissau were present to witness Hun Sen’s vote. Having held power for 38 years, Hun Sen, now 70, has hinted that he may pass on the premiership to his eldest son, Hun Manet, during the upcoming five-year term. Despite having received a Western education, Hun Manet is not expected to deviate significantly from his father’s policies, particularly in terms of forging closer ties with China. Furthermore, a broader generational change is anticipated within the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, with younger leaders slated for ministerial positions. Stability is the primary concern for many voters, as voiced by Nan Sy, a former lawmaker. Although there have been few reports of election-related protests, 27 individuals are being sought for allegedly encouraging voters to spoil their ballots. Hun Sen originally rose to prominence as a middle-ranking commander in the genocidal Khmer Rouge before defecting to Vietnam. Since then, he has maintained power as an autocratic leader within a facade of democracy. In the previous elections of 2013, his party faced a challenge from the opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party, which garnered 44% of the popular vote. In response, Hun Sen targeted opposition leaders through compliant courts, leading to the dissolution of the party in 2017. Ahead of the recent election, the Candlelight Party, the unofficial successor to the CNRP, was disqualified from participating in the polls by the National Election Committee. Consequently, rights groups have widely criticized the election process, with Human Rights Watch arguing that it lacks democratic legitimacy. Despite the contentious circumstances surrounding the election, there appears to be limited popular discontent, largely due to the CPP’s effective messaging and the promotion of a unifying national project. The primary beneficiary of any anti-CPP sentiment is expected to be FUNCINPEC, a royalist party. Founded by former king Norodom Sihanouk, FUNCINPEC previously defeated the CPP in U.N.-run elections in 1993. However, the party later entered into a power-sharing agreement with Hun Sen’s party. Norodom Chakravuth, the current president of FUNCINPEC, has expressed hopes of winning one or two seats in this election, with a greater focus on the 2028 elections.
NPR: Cambodia’s Hun Sen poised for re-election as opposition stifled
Denial of responsibility! Swift Telecast is an automatic aggregator of the all world’s media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, all materials to their authors. If you are the owner of the content and do not want us to publish your materials, please contact us by email – swifttelecast.com. The content will be deleted within 24 hours.