Ke Sovannaroth, flanked by Mrs. Thak Lany to her left and Mr. Nuth Rumduol to her right, at the press conference today announcing her resignation from parliament.
Wednesday, 23 November 2011
Posted by Serath
PHNOM PENH, Nov 23 - The opposition Sam Rainsy Party announced that all 26 opposition members of parliament would boycott budget talks at the National Assembly on Thursday.
A statement by the party released did not mention a reason for the boycott, although exiled party leader Sam Rainsy has previously said that opposition members of parliament have decided to "provoke a constitutional crisis" by resigning en masse.
Prime Minster Hun Sen said Wednesday that the opposition had no right to boycott parliament or bargain with the Cambodian People's Party which has an overwhelming majority in the 123-seat parliament.
Sam Rainsy asserts that Article 76 of the constitution requires the presence of at least 120 members of parliament to convene discussions about the national budget.
On Monday, three members of the Sam Rainsy Party tendered their resignations from the National Assembly. The resignations were accepted Wednesday, a source said.
Sam Rainsy is now in exile to avoid imprisonment and analysts see his plan to trigger a constitutional crisis as putting pressure on the government to secure a royal pardon ahead of commune elections in 2012 and national elections in 2013.
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