July 17, 2013
THE NUMBER OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SEATS MUST BE INCREASED
The number of seats at the National Assembly is an important issue.
Since the UN-organized elections in 1993, the number of seats at the National Assembly has practically NOT changed (from 120 to only 123, with the three additional seats representing three newly-created small constituencies). This is at odds with the “Law on the Election of National Assembly Members” whose Article 9 stipulates that the total number of Assembly seats should increase, from one legislative term to another, in line with the increase in the country’s population.
Over the last 20 years Cambodia’s population has increased from approximately 10 million to approximately 14 million, meaning a 40 percent increase. Why then hasn’t the total number of Assembly seats increased accordingly? This is a point worth addressing and a political injustice to the local population worth redressing.
Over the past three successive terms (1998-2003, 2003-2008, 2008-2013) and also for the next term (2013-2018) the ruling CPP has always imposed its decision to keep the same number of Assembly seats, at 123. The reason is because they know that, given the current election system of proportional representation and the current formula for seat allocation, any additional seat to be created would go, in most cases, to the opposition.
Let’s take the example of Preah Sihanouk province which includes the city port of Sihanoukville. In spite of its population having more than doubled over the last 15 years to over 200,000, it is still a one-seat constituent, the corresponding seat being detained by the CPP. But any additional seat to be created would be automatically won by the opposition. This is definitely not fair to a large portion of the population who are not represented, in violation of the law, and it goes against democratic principle.
Sam Rainsy
Over the last 20 years Cambodia’s population has increased from approximately 10 million to approximately 14 million, meaning a 40 percent increase. Why then hasn’t the total number of Assembly seats increased accordingly? This is a point worth addressing and a political injustice to the local population worth redressing.
Over the past three successive terms (1998-2003, 2003-2008, 2008-2013) and also for the next term (2013-2018) the ruling CPP has always imposed its decision to keep the same number of Assembly seats, at 123. The reason is because they know that, given the current election system of proportional representation and the current formula for seat allocation, any additional seat to be created would go, in most cases, to the opposition.
Let’s take the example of Preah Sihanouk province which includes the city port of Sihanoukville. In spite of its population having more than doubled over the last 15 years to over 200,000, it is still a one-seat constituent, the corresponding seat being detained by the CPP. But any additional seat to be created would be automatically won by the opposition. This is definitely not fair to a large portion of the population who are not represented, in violation of the law, and it goes against democratic principle.
Sam Rainsy
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