Cambodian general election, 2018

Cambodian general election, 2018

29 July 2018
All 125 seats to the National Assembly 63 seats needed for a majority
Registered	8,380,217 13.39%
Turnout	6,956,900 (83.02%) 13.41%
First party   Leader Hun Sen Party CPP Leader since 14 January 1985 Leader's seat Kandal Last election 68 seats, 48.83% Seats won 125 Seat change 57 Popular vote 4,889,113 Percentage 76.85% Swing 28.02%
Prime Minister before election Hun Sen CPP Elected Prime Minister Hun Sen CPP

Cambodia
This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Cambodia
Monarchy King Norodom Sihamoni Throne Council House of Norodom House of Sisowath (1904–41)
Government Prime Minister (list) Hun Sen Deputy Prime Ministers Sar Kheng Tea Banh Hor Namhong Men Sam An Bin Chhin Yim Chhaily Aun Pornmoniroth Prak Sokhonn Chea Sophara Council of Ministers
Parliament Senate President: Say Chhum National Assembly President: Heng Samrin Members
Elections National Election Committee Recent elections General: 2013 2018 Senate: 2012 2018 Communal: 2012 2017 Political parties
Foreign relations
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Related issues Human rights LGBT rights Cambodian–Thai border stand-off 2013–14 Cambodian protests
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General elections (Khmer: ការបោះឆ្នោតជ្រើសតាំងតំណាងរាស្ត្រ នីតិកាលទី៦ ឆ្នាំ២០១៨) were held in Cambodia on Sunday, 29 July 2018 to elect members of the sixth National Assembly. Polling precincts opened at 7:00 a.m. and closed at 3:00 p.m. The number of registered voters has decreased for the first time since 1993 and was down 13.39% from the previous general election. Voter turnout was 83.02%. With the absence of a credible opposition, the election was viewed as merely a formality, and dismissed as a "sham election" by the international community.^[1][2] It resulted in a widely expected landslide victory for the ruling Cambodian People's Party, who won all 125 seats in the National Assembly.^[3]

Background

The previous election of 28 July 2013, saw the fourth consecutive victory of the Cambodian People's Party, gaining 68 seats of the National Assembly and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party occupying the rest of the 55 seats. Despite their huge gain in seats, the opposition denied the results and accused the ruling party of poll fraud. As a result, the CNRP boycotted parliament in September 2013 and vows not to enter parliament until a legitimate electoral reform.^[4] The disputed election results led to the outbreak of widespread anti-government protests.^[5]

On 10 April 2014, prime minister Hun Sen agreed to hold the election five months early in February 2018. The opposition however rejected and wants the election to be held as early as 2015 or mid 2016.^[6] On 22 July 2014, the political crisis officially ended and the opposition agreed to accept their seats in parliament. The next election was also agreed to be held in 2018.^[7] As of November 2015, Sam Rainsy is barred from contesting the 2018 election, having been stripped from parliamentary immunity, and barred from returning to Cambodia.^[8] His request for a royal pardon was blocked by Prime Minister Hun Sen.^[9] In December 2016, his deputy Kem Sokha replaced him as Minority Leader.^[10]

On 11 February 2017, Sam Rainsy announced his resignation as President of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, and was replaced by his deputy Kem Sokha.^[11] On 3 September, Sokha was arrested and charged of "treason", raising questions about the party's future.^[12] Another act of repression by the government was the closure of the Cambodia Daily newspaper.^[13] On 16 November 2017, the opposition CNRP was dissolved, eliminating any real challenge to the long-ruling CPP.^[1] Its seats in parliament were distributed to three other parties.^[14]

Results

The legitimacy of the 2018 election has been called into question by various commentators and media outlets.^[15][16] There were a record number of invalid ballots, accounting for 8.6% of the total votes cast, more than any votes received by a political party barring the CPP.^[17] Various international governments including Australia, Canada, the European Union, and the United States dismissed the election results, and threatened to impose sanctions on Hun Sen's government.^[18] China, the Philippines, Laos and Thailand were among the countries to congratulate the CPP on their victory.^[19] Meanwhile the former opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party accused the National Election Committee of misleading the number of voter turnout.^[20]

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Cambodian People's Party	4,889,113	76.85	125	+57
	FUNCINPEC	374,510	5.89	0	0
	League for Democracy Party	309,364	4.86	0	0
	Khmer Will Party	212,869	3.35	0	New
	Khmer National United Party	99,377	1.56	0	New
	Grassroots Democratic Party	70,567	1.11	0	New
	Beehive Social Democratic Party	56,024	0.88	0	New
	Khmer Anti-Poverty Party	55,298	0.87	0	0
	Khmer United Party	48,785	0.77	0	New
	Cambodian Nationality Party	45,370	0.71	0	0
	Khmer Republican Party	41,631	0.65	0	New
	Cambodian Youth Party	39,333	0.62	0	New
	Dharmacracy Party	29,060	0.46	0	New
	Khmer Economic Development Party	23,255	0.37	0	0
	Khmer Rise Party	22,002	0.35	0	New
	Ponleu Thmey Party	13,509	0.21	0	New
	Cambodia Indigenous People's Democracy Party	10,197	0.16	0	New
	Our Motherland Party	9,174	0.14	0	New
	Democratic Republican Party	8,591	0.14	0	0
	Reaksmey Khemara Party	4,212	0.07	0	New
Invalid/blank votes		594,659	–	–	–
Total		6,956,900	100	125	+2
Registered voters/turnout		8,380,217	83.02	–	–
Source: National Election Committee

References