By Soun Samnang
The Mekong Times
The Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) yesterday said the National Assembly (NA) is taking too long to pass crucial legislation, urging it be reopened for business despite the fact it is officially closed until reformation after this year’s national election, scheduled for July 27.
“I want the NA to ratify the draft anti-corruption law, the law on peaceful demonstration, and amend the election law to ensure Cambodia’s election results are reliable,” SRP President Sam Rainsy said in a letter to Heng Samrin, president of the NA.
He said that the NA has three more months before the elections, which he claims is sufficient time for the laws to be adopted.
First Deputy NA President Nguon Nhel rejected the opposition party’s request, claiming the party has no right to seek the reopening of parliament.
“According to the Constitution, it is only King Norodom Sihamoni, Samdech Hun Sen and [Heng Samrin] who have the right to do so. I think that if Sam Rainsy wants the institution to continue its sessions, he has to seek approval of these leaders,” he explained.
He added that in its third mandate the NA approved more important laws than the second and first, so any laws remaining should be kept for the next term.
The NA approved 88 and 90 laws respectively in 1993-1998 and 1998-2003 mandates. Although the 2003 election results were disputed, keeping the nation in political deadlock for almost a year, the NA was still able to adopt 146 laws.
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