Cambodian PM asks citizens to vote for his party in July's polls [Is Hun Sen that desperate?]

Xinhua | 19 March 2013
By Agencies

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday appealed to citizens to cast their ballots for his ruling party in a general election slated for July 28.

"I would like to send a message from here. If you love, pity, and trust Hun Sen, please vote for the Cambodian People's Party ( CPP)," the premier said during the inauguration of the National Council on Green Growth. "I will use this language wherever I go."

The premier's appeal was made after the CPP's congress on Sunday officially endorsed his candidacy as prime minister of Cambodia for the fifth legislative term of the National Assembly ( 2013-2018) if the party continues to win in the general election in July.

Hun Sen, 61, has been in power for 28 years and vowed to stay in the office until he is 90.

The country is set to hold a general election on July 28. According to the National Election Committee, about 9.67 million Cambodians are eligible to cast their ballots in the forthcoming polls.

In the last election in July 2008, the CPP won 90 seats out of the 123 parliamentary seats.

Political analysts predict that the CPP will definitely gain a landslide victory in the forthcoming elections.