Friday, September 20, 2013

Cambodia has no political stalemate, a new government expected by 24 September

By Ek Tha

PHNOM PENH, September 19, 2013  – His Excellency Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Sok An assured former Singaporean Foreign Minister that Cambodia has no post-election political deadlock. His Majesty The King Norodom Sihamoni will preside over the opening of the National Assembly on 23 September.

Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin will chair the first session of the National Assembly on 24 September, said H.E Dr. Sok An, adding that “Cambodia expects to have a new government in place by 24 Sept.”

He said that since the amended constitution in 2006, only 63 lawmakers are required, according to the law and internal rules of the National Assembly, to form a new National Assembly and a new Royal Government.

In a meeting with former Singapore foreign minister George Yeo on Thursday, H. E Dr. Sok An explained in a great detail about the overall electoral process in July in which national and international observers have expressed their support for  the election results.

H.E Dr. Sok An said that the opposition party has manipulated the post-election situation, meaning that the opposition’s allegations of election irregularities are “baseless”.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that the party agents of the opposition party, of CNRP, outnumbered the CPP’s party agents at the polling stations nationwide.

The National Election Committee and the Constitutional Council have solved all complaints lodged by CNRP and that it has no impact on the election results.

The CPP received 68 parliamentarian seats and the remaining 55 seats went to CNRP.

In response, the former Singapore foreign minister George Yeo said he is pleased with the explanation by H.E Dr. Sok An, and said that a new Cambodian Government will continue to develop the country and that this post-electoral crisis will pass.

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