Senate election kicks off in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 29, 2012 (Xinhua) -- The election for the third legislature of Cambodian Senate has begun on Sunday morning with two main political parties participating in the contest.

The two parties are the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and Sam Rainsy Party, the country's main opposition party, according to the National Election Committee (NEC).

Prime Minister Hun Sen casted his ballot near his residence in Takhmau district, Kandal province, about 10 km south of the capital.

The Senate election is voted by 119 Members of Parliament and 11,351 commune councilors at 33 polling stations across the country, it added.

Cambodia's Senate has 61 seats, but the election is held for 57 seats as two senators will be appointed by the King and the other 2 by the National Assembly.

The results will be announced Sunday afternoon.

The Senate election is held every six years. The last one was in Jan. 2006, at that time, three parties -- CPP, Funcinpec and Sam Rainsy Party -- joined the contest. As a result, the CPP won 45 seats, Funcinpec 10 seats and the Sam Rainsy Party 2 seats.
Editor: en_hl