Opposition Pushes for Single-Term Limit for PM Post

(photo: Sam Rainsy(L), Hun Sen (R))

Opposition Pushes for Single-Term Limit on PM
Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer Original report from Phnom Penh05 November 2007
Chun Sakada reports in Khmer-(804KB) Listen Chun Sakada reports in Khmer
The Sam Rainsy Party said Sunday it planned to introduce a bill to the National Assembly requiring a single term limit for the position of prime minister.
A short term would reduce corruption and spur growth, opposition leader Sam Rainsy told VOA Khmer Monday.
"In the world, countries that progress are frequently changing their leaders, not having one person holding a position for dozens of years like Cambodia," Sam Rainsy said.
Prime Minister Hun Sen has led the country since 1985, and Cambodia will hold national parliamentary elections in July. A win for the ruling Cambodian People's Party would put Hun Sen in an elected prime minister seat for the second election in a row, following his forcible seize on power in a bloody coup in 1997.
His lengthy posting as premier was hurting the country's growth, Sam Rainsy said.
"Any leader…will be more corrupt the longer he stays, and the people will get poorer the longer he stays, and the nation will be more devastated the longer he stays and foreign countries will encroach more Cambodian land," Sam Rainsy said. "One term is enough."