Cambodian PM firmly confident of victory in forthcoming polls [Hun Sen is confident of winning because he is the candidate, the election organiser and the vote-counter]

Xinhua | 24th May 2013
By Agencies

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Friday expressed his "firm confidence" that his Cambodian People's Party would undoubtedly win in the July general election.

"The opponents always say that Hun Sen will lose in the election, but Hun Sen will win forever because of the support from the people," Hun Sen said during the inauguration of a large-scale Buddha statue in eastern Kampong Cham province, which was attended by about 15,000 people.

The premier recalled that during the last election in 2008, the opposition group also said that he would lose the election, but at the time, his Cambodian People's Party won up to 90 seats out of the 123-seat parliament.

Hun Sen, 61, has been in power for 28 years and vowed to stay in the office until he is 74.

Meanwhile, he appealed to people to continue supporting him as the Prime Minister by casting their ballots for the Cambodian People's Party in the general election on July 28.

He also urged people not to use violence or discriminate against the others in different political parties during the upcoming election campaign and on the Election Day.

Eight political parties will run in the forthcoming election, which will be voted by some 9.67 million eligible Cambodians, according to the National Election Committee.

Three major parties among them are the ruling Cambodian People's Party of Prime Minister Hun Sen, the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party led by self-exiled leader Sam Rainsy, and the royalist Funcinpec Party headed by Princess Norodom Arun Rasmey, the youngest daughter of late King Father Norodom Sihanouk.