Cambodia's ruling, opposition parties pin blame on each other for failing to reach agreement

Xinhua | 2014-3-11 

By Agencies

Cambodia's ruling and opposition parties have put the blame on each other after their negotiations Monday on electoral reforms failed to reach an agreement.

The ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) issued a statement Tuesday, saying that the failure to issue a joint statement after the talks Monday was because the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) wanted the role of the National Election Committee (NEC) to be defined in the constitution and the appointment of the NEC's members to be made at a two-thirds majority of the 123-seat National Assembly.

"The CPP is very disappointed that the CNRP still uses this issue to be a condition which can hinder the process of forthcoming electoral reforms,"the statement said.

The CNRP said in a statement that the disagreement was due to the CPP's refusal to the proposal, a priority issue on the subject of election reform.

"The CNRP is willing to continue the dialogue with the CPP only if the latter accepts its above-mentioned requests,"the statement said.

Monday's talk was made between Deputy Prime Minister Ben Chhin, CPP's negotiation team leader and CNRP's talk team leader Son Chhay.

Political row between Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling CPP and Sam Rainsy's opposition CNRP has simmered after the July election results showed that the CPP won 68 parliamentary seats against 55 seats by the CNRP.

Claiming serious ballot-rigging during the poll, the CNRP refused to accept the outcome and has boycotted parliament and held numerous protests to demand the resignation of Hun Sen and a re-election.

Hun Sen has said that he would neither step down nor call a re- vote.