Cambodian ruling, opposition leaders finalize new draft election law

PHNOM PENH, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of Cambodian ruling and opposition parties met here on Saturday to finalize a new draft election law, which will be used to ensure free and fair elections in the future.

The meeting was made between deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng, senior representative of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and Sam Rainsy, president of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP).

"The leaders of lawmakers of the two parties have resolved all remaining issues of the draft amendment to the election law," said a joint statement released after the four-hour meeting.

"In regard to the ensuring of sustainability and regularity of national institutions, to prevent deadlock after (future) elections, the leaders have agreed in principle to study this issue and will prepare to include any appropriate legal text," the statement said.

Speaking at a joint press briefing, Sar Kheng said the two sides will soon put the draft law for approval from the parliament.

"It will serve as a legal instrument to maintain security, peace and stability, and to further promote the development of our country," he said.

Sam Rainsy said, "Today is the day that can be inscribed in the history that Khmers in all political tendencies can work together for the interests of the nation."

CNRP ended its 10-month-long boycott of parliament over the July 2013 elections after Prime Minister Hun Sen agreed in July last year to its proposals for electoral reform and power sharing in the parliament.

For the electoral reform, under the agreement, a new National Election Committee (NEC) will be formed and its nine members will include four from the CPP, four from the CNRP, and one, an independent person not related to political parties.

Hun Sen said in a public speech on Wednesday that he will not allow the new NEC to form unless the CNRP agrees to the new draft election law that will redistribute the parliamentary seats of any party that boycotts its seats after elections.

His decision came after Sam Rainsy and his deputy Kem Sokha led the CNRP's 55 lawmakers on a 10-month-long boycott of their seats after the 2013 election, which they said was marred by irregularities.

"The new election law should state that the lawmakers of any party that does not join the parliament when the king convenes, it means that the party abandons its seats," he said. "If you don't join the parliament, the NEC will distribute your seats to other political parties."

Editor: Mu Xuequan