Cambodia's ruling CPP party confirmed election winner

BBC News : 8 September 2013

 

Cambodia's opposition claims there was widespread rigging in July's election

 

Cambodia's ruling People's Party (CPP) has been confirmed the winner of July's general election which was marred by fraud allegations.

The election commission said Prime Minister Hun Sen's CPP won 68 seats, compared to 55 for the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP).

The televised announcement comes after thousands took part in a rally in the capital Phnom Penh to protest against alleged electoral fraud.

Hun Sen has run Cambodia for 28 years.

The 61-year-old has vowed to stay in power until he is in his seventies.

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy claimed there was widespread rigging in the election.

The result confirmation means he will no longer be able to legally contest the vote.

According to preliminary official figures, the CPP won 3.2 million votes, while Mr Rainsy's party obtained 2.9 million.

The election commission is yet to officially confirm these numbers.

On Saturday, huge crowds gathered in Phnom Penh's Democracy Park in what organisers described as a peaceful protest based on Buddhist prayer.

Many demonstrators brought lotus flowers symbolising peace.

Mr Rainsy told the crowd it was a "historic day", saying that "those who steal our votes won't live happily".

With all the institutions of state, including the election commission, under the thumb of Hun Sen, this type of protest is the only way for opposition supporters to challenge the result, says the BBC's Southeast Asia correspondent Jonathan Head.

He adds that the CNRP has vowed to keep up its street protests against the result.

 

Cambodian Election Board Ratifies Ruling Party Win

 

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia September 8, 2013 (AP)

By SOPHENG CHEANG and JUSTINE DRENNAN Associated Press

 

Cambodian Buddhist monks participated in a demonstration in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Saturday. More than 20,000 opposition supporters gathered in the nation's capital to demand an investigation into alleged election fraud. (Heng Sinith/Associated Press)

 

Cambodia's government-appointed election board has ratified the victory of incumbent Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling party, rejecting opposition claims that the polls were unfair.

The results announced on state television Sunday morning handed 68 National Assembly seats to Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party and 55 to the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party.

The opposition has contested the outcome of the July 28 election, saying it would have won the majority of seats had the election been fair, but its legal challenges were rejected. It had threatened street protests and a boycott of the assembly unless until its demand for an independent probe of alleged election irregularities was met.

Hun Sen has ruled Cambodia for 28 years and remains firmly in control, although the opposition won significantly more seats than it had in the past.

The new parliament is supposed to be seated within 60 days of the election.

Nearly 20,000 opposition supporters gathered Saturday in Cambodia's capital to cheer their leaders' demands for an investigation of what their leaders said was vote tampering and widespread voter disenfranchisement. The opposition vowed Sunday to continue its protests.