ASEAN Elections ‘free, fair and just’

Cambodian leader sweeps aside criticism in celebratory post

PHNOM PENH: Cambodia’s strongman leader Hun Sen hailed this week’s elections as “free, fair and just” after a controversial vote with no viable opposition drew criticism from Washington and the European Union.

Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) will form a new government within 60 days, its spokesman said yesterday, two days after a general election that critics called neither free nor fair, after the main opposition was disbanded last year.

King Norodom Sihamoni will invite all of parliament’s new members-elect to a meeting to be held within 60 days of the July 29 vote, said ruling party spokesman Sok Eysan yesterday.

“After the meeting, a government will then be formed ... there will be a new Cabinet,” Sok Eysan said.

“It will be between Sept 25 and 26.”

The prime minister, who has ruled for 33 years, swept aside questions over the ballot’s legitimacy in a celebratory Facebook post yesterday.

“Cambodia decided the fate of the nation through a free, fair and just election,” he wrote.

Rights groups accused Hun Sen of wiping out his political opposition, choking free press and stamping out activism in the lead up to the poll.

Opposition figures had called for a voting boycott with a “clean finger” campaign, which election authorities said failed with an estimated 82% turnout and 6.3 million votes cast.

But in a sign of pushback from unhappy voters, around 600,000 ballots were spoiled. In his post, Hun Sen said citizens cast their ballots “without pressure or being forced”, thanking voters for supporting the CPP.

The flawed election prompted swift criticism from the European Union, which said the vote “lacks credibility”.

The United States threatened to broaden visa restrictions on senior Cambodian officials.

Cambodia’s key ally China, which has provided cash and soft loans to Hun Sen’s government, offered its “sincere congratulations” on the poll. —