Cambodian general election, 2008

Last updated
Cambodian general election, 2008
Flag of Cambodia.svg
←  2003 27 July 2008 2013  →
All 123 seats to the National Assembly
62 seats needed for a majority
Registered8,125,529 Increase2.svg 28.1%
Turnout6,100,884 (75.1%) Decrease2.svg 8.1%
 First partySecond partyThird party
  Hun Sen 1 (cropped).jpg Sam Rainsy (cropped).jpg Kem Sokha (2013).jpg
Leader Hun Sen Sam Rainsy Kem Sokha
Party CPP SRP HRP
Leader since14 January 1985June 199522 July 2007
Leader's seat Kandal Kampong Cham Kampong Cham
Last election73 seats, 47.3%24 seats, 21.9%Did not stand
Seats before73240
Seats won90263
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 17Increase2.svg 2Increase2.svg 3
Popular vote3,492,3741,316,714397,816
Percentage58.1%21.9%6.6%
SwingIncrease2.svg 10.8%Steady2.svgIncrease2.svg 6.6%
Cambodian General Election, 2008.svg
Prime Minister before election

Hun Sen
CPP

Elected Prime Minister

Hun Sen
CPP

Cambodia
Royal arms of Cambodia.svg
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Cambodia
Foreign relations

General elections were held in Cambodia on 27 July 2008. [1] The result was a victory for the ruling Cambodian People's Party, which won 90 of the 123 seats.

Cambodia Southeast Asian sovereign state

Cambodia, officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is 181,035 square kilometres in area, bordered by Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the northeast, Vietnam to the east and the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest.

Cambodian Peoples Party Cambodian political party

The Cambodian People's Party, founded as the Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Party, is the current ruling political party of Cambodia. It was the sole legal party in the country at the time of the People's Republic of Kampuchea (1979–1989) and during the first two years of the State of Cambodia. Its name was changed during the final years of the State of Cambodia, when the single-party system as well as the Marxist–Leninist ideology were abandoned. Having governed Cambodia since 1979, it is one of the longest-ruling parties in the world. The General Secretary of the party from 1979 to 1981 was Pen Sovan. The KPRP was originally a Marxist–Leninist party, although it took on a more reformist outlook in the mid-1980s under Heng Samrin's leadership. In the 1990s, the KPRP officially dropped its commitment to socialist ideology altogether when it renamed itself the Cambodian People's Party. It is also currently the oldest active party in Cambodia. Since 2018, the party commands all 125 seats in the National Assembly, and 58 of 62 seats in the Senate. Hun Sen, the Prime Minister of Cambodia, has served as the party's President since 2015.

Contents

Background

Prime Minister Hun Sen announced the planned date of the election on 30 May 2007, saying that the date of 27 July 2008 had been decided on because it was a holiday and because it fell exactly five years after the last election. [1] While the ruling Cambodian People's Party was expected to retain its majority, Funcinpec was considered likely to fall behind the two major opposition parties, the Sam Rainsy Party and the Sangkum Jatiniyum Front Party.[ citation needed ] The newly founded Human Rights Party was also expected to make an impact.

Hun Sen Prime Minister of Cambodia

Hun Sen is a Cambodian politician and the Prime Minister of Cambodia, President of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and Member of Parliament (MP) for Kandal. He has served as Prime Minister since 1985, making him the world’s longest-serving prime minister, the longest-serving head of government of Cambodia and one of the longest-serving leaders in the world. From 1979 to 1986 and again from 1987 to 1990, Hun Sen also served as Cambodia's foreign minister. His full honorary title is Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen. Born Hun Bunal, he changed his name to Hun Sen in 1972 two years after joining the Khmer Rouge.

Sangkum Jatiniyum Front Party

The Alliance of the National Community that represented four parties had all of its four parties merge and be transformed into a political party called the Sangkum Jatiniyum Front Party and one of them is the Khmer Unity Party.

Campaign

By the deadline of 12 May 2008, only twelve parties had registered for the election, only half of the 23 parties which contested the 2003 elections and a third of the 39 in the 1998 elections. [2] Ten of those parties fielded candidates in all of Cambodia's 24 provinces and municipalities, while the remaining two fielded candidates in only nine and seven provinces, respectively. [3] Ten parties were approved, one was asked to submit more documents and subsequently approved [4] and one was denied registration. [5]

In early July, the Khmer Anti-Poverty Party and the Society of Justice Party decided to form a political alliance, and the Khmer Republican Party also stated it was willing to make alliances. [6]

Khmer Anti-Poverty Party

The Khmer Anti-Poverty Party is a Cambodian political party founded in September 2007. Its leader is Cambodian-American Daran Kravanh.

Society of Justice Party

Society of Justice Party is a political party in Cambodia, whose president is Ban Sophal.

Khmer Republican Party

The Khmer Republican Party (KRP) is political party created on 11 March 2006. It participated in the 27 July 2008 elections under the leadership of Lon Rith.

Conduct

The EU observing mission stated that based on the provisional results, the lead of the CPP was so large that there would have to be very large-scale fraud in order to call the CPP's victory into question. [7] They still criticised the disenfranchisement of a large number of voters, but lauded the improvement over the 2003 elections; on the whole, however, the election fell short of international standards. [8]

Results

Preliminary results from CPP sources indicated that the CPP had won 58.3% of the vote and 91 seats, whilst the SRP had won 21.9% of the vote and 26 seats, with the Human Rights Party on three seats, the NRP on two and FUNCINPEC with one. [9] [10] NGOs and other supervising bodies stated that the distribution was more likely 70 for CPP and 50 for SRP. [11]

Cambodian National Assembly composition, 2008-2013.svg
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Cambodian People's Party 3,492,37458.1190+17
Sam Rainsy Party 1,316,71421.9326+2
Human Rights Party 397,8166.623New
Norodom Ranariddh Party 337,9435.622New
FUNCINPEC 303,7645.052–24
League for Democracy Party 68,9091.150New
Khmer Democratic Party 32,3860.5400
Hang Dara Democratic Movement Party 25,0650.4200
Society of Justice Party 14,1120.230New
Khmer Republican Party 11,6930.190New
Khmer Anti-Poverty Party 9,5010.160New
Invalid/blank votes90,607–––
Total6,100,8841001230
Registered voters/turnout8,125,52975.08––
Source: COMFREL
↓
90
26
3
2
2
CPP
SRP
HRP
NRP
FCP

Aftermath

Prime Minister Hun Sen claimed victory the day after the elections, [12] The stand-off with Thailand over the Preah Vihear Temple was widely seen as a successful attempt of the ruling CPP to garner more support. [13] [14] Analysts expected the CPP to increase its majority; as the constitution was amended to remove the need for a two-thirds majority to govern, requiring the more common simple majority instead, it was considered likely that the CPP would be able to govern without a coalition partner. [15]

The CPP announced it would retain its coalition with the severely diminished FUNCINPEC, but ordered its leaders Keo Puth Rasmey and his wife Princess Arun Rasmey to stand down and let army general Nhek Bun Chhay take over; he would be the first non-royal to lead FUNCINPEC. [16]

The SRP, HRP and NRP threatened to boycott the first parliamentary session unless the irregularities were investigated; the PM replied that in that case, the opposition's seats would be redistributed between CPP and FUNCINPEC. [17]

Related Research Articles

Norodom Sihanouk Cambodian King

Norodom Sihanouk was a Cambodian royal, politician, composer and filmmaker who was twice the King of Cambodia. He was the son of King Norodom Suramarit and Queen Sisowath Kossamak. In Cambodia, he is also known as Samdech Euv.

After the fall of the Pol Pot regime of Democratic Kampuchea, Cambodia was under Vietnamese occupation and a pro-Hanoi government, the People's Republic of Kampuchea was established. A civil war raged during the 1980s opposing the government's Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Armed Forces against the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea, a government in exile composed of three Cambodian political factions: Prince Norodom Sihanouk's Funcinpec party, the Party of Democratic Kampuchea and the Khmer People's National Liberation Front (KPNLF).

FUNCINPEC political party

FUNCINPEC, National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful and Cooperative Cambodia in English, is a royalist political party in Cambodia. Founded in 1981 by Norodom Sihanouk, it started off as a resistance movement against the People's Republic of Kampuchea (PRK) government. In 1982, it formed a resistance pact, the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea (CGDK), together with the Khmer People's National Liberation Front (KPNLF) and the Khmer Rouge. It was one of the signatory parties of the 1991 Paris Peace Accords, which paved the way for the formation of the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC). In 1992, FUNCINPEC became a political party and participated in the 1993 general elections organised by UNTAC. It won the elections, and formed a coalition government with the Cambodian People's Party (CPP), with which it jointly headed. Norodom Ranariddh, Sihanouk's son who had succeeded him as the party president, became First Prime Minister while Hun Sen, who was from the CPP, became Second Prime Minister.

Kampong Cham Province Province in Cambodia

Kampong Cham is a province (khaet) of Cambodia located on the central lowlands of the Mekong River. It borders the provinces of Kampong Chhnang to the west, Kampong Thom and Kratié to the north, Tbong Khmum to the east, and Prey Veng and Kandal to the south. Kampong Cham was officially divided into two provinces on 31 December 2013 in what was seen by many as a political move by the ruling party. All land west of the Mekong remained Kampong Cham while land east of the river became Tbong Khmum province. Prior to this division, Kampong Cham extended eastward to the international border with Vietnam, was the eleventh largest province in Cambodia, and with a population of 1,680,694, was the most populous province in Cambodia. Its capital and largest city is Kampong Cham.

Candlelight Party

The Candlelight Party is a personalist liberal party in Cambodia. The party was a member of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats, Liberal International, and the Alliance of Democrats.

Norodom Ranariddh 20th and 21st-century Cambodian politician

Norodom Ranariddh is a Cambodian royal politician and law academic. He is the second son of Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia and a half-brother of the current king, Norodom Sihamoni. Ranariddh is the president of FUNCINPEC, a Cambodian royalist party. He was also the First Prime Minister of Cambodia following the restoration of the monarchy, serving between 1993 and 1997, and subsequently as the President of the National Assembly between 1998 and 2006.

Chea Sim Cambodian politician

Chea Sim was a Cambodian politician. He was President of the Cambodian People's Party from 1991 to 2015, President of the National Assembly of Cambodia from 1981 to 1998 and President of the Senate from 1999 to 2015. His official title was Samdach Akeak Moha Thomak Pothisal Chea Sim, Protean Protsaphea ney Preah Reacheanachak Kampuchea.

Norodom Chakrapong Cambodian prince

Norodom Chakrapong is a Cambodian royal politician, businessman and former major-general of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces. He is the fourth son of Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia and also a half-brother of the current king, Norodom Sihamoni. Chakrapong started his career as a military pilot in 1963. After Sihanouk was overthrown in 1970, Chakrapong spent time under house arrest, then in Beijing as the Head of Protocol of then-Prince Sihanouk, afterwards living overseas before he joined the Funcinpec in 1981 and fought against Vietnamese occupation as a commander of the Armée Nationale Sihanoukiste. In 1991, Chakrapong left Funcinpec to join the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and served as the Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia between 1992 and 1993. When the CPP lost the 1993 general elections, Chakrapong led a secession attempt in 1993. In 1994, he was accused of joining a failed coup attempt which led him to be sent into exile. After Chakrapong was pardoned in 1998, he founded a private airline company, Royal Phnom Penh Airways. The airlines later stopped all operations in early 2006.

Elections in Cambodia

Cambodia is a one party dominant state with the Cambodian People's Party in power. Cambodia's legislature is chosen through a national election. The general election is held every five years in the fourth Sunday of July. The Parliament of Cambodia has two chambers. The National Assembly of Cambodia has 125 members, each elected for a five-year term by proportional representation. The Senate has 62 members, mostly indirectly elected.

Sam Rainsy Cambodian politician

Sam Rainsy is a Cambodian activist and politician who most recently served as the Leader of the Opposition. He is now the president of the Cambodia National Rescue Movement (CNRM), launched in January 2018. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Kampong Cham, first from 1998 until 2005, then from 2008 to 2011, and finally from 2014 until 2015; he has been revoked of parliamentary immunity three times. He was previously the MP for Siem Reap from 1993 until 1995 when he was expelled from the Constituent Assembly. A co-founder of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), Rainsy was previously a member of the royalist Funcinpec Party and served as the Minister of Economy and Finance during Norodom Ranariddh's administration from 1993 until his sacking in 1994. In June 1995, he was expelled from the National Assembly, and formed the Khmer Nation Party (KNP), which changed its name before the 1998 elections to the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) to avoid registration issues. From 2000 to 2002 and again from 2012 to 2014, Rainsy was the chairperson of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats.

Sar Kheng Cambodian Minister of the Interior

Sar Kheng is a Cambodian politician. One of the highest-ranking members of the ruling Cambodian People's Party, he is the current Minister of the Interior and has served as a Deputy Prime Minister since 1992. He also represents the province of Battambang in the Cambodian Parliament. Kheng has been the Minister of the Interior since 1992. Until March 2006, he shared the position with FUNCINPEC party member You Hockry as co-Ministers of the Interior, but then became sole interior minister in a cabinet reshuffle as FUNCINPEC ended its coalition with the CPP. He is currently the second longest serving government minister of Cambodia after Prime Minister Hun Sen. On June 14, 2015, King Norodom Sihamoni awarded Kheng the honorary title of "Samdech". His official title is "Samdech Kralahom Sar Kheng". Kheng is married to Nhem Sakhan with whom he has three children.

2003 Cambodian general election

General elections were held in Cambodia on 27 July 2003 to elect members of the National Assembly. The elections were won by the ruling Cambodian People's Party, which won a majority of 73 seats in the 123-seat parliament. However, due to the requirement for a two-thirds majority to elect a Prime Minister, a new government was not formed until July 2004 when a deal was reached with the FUNCINPEC party. Hun Sen was subsequently re-elected the post of Prime Minister.

Mu Sochua Cambodian politician

Mu Sochua is a Cambodian politician and rights activist. She was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Battambang from 2013 to 2017, a seat which she previously held from 1998 to 2003. She was a member and Vice President of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) until its dissolve, and previously a member of the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) prior to its merger with the Human Rights Party. As a member of FUNCINPEC, she also served as Minister of Women and Veterans' Affairs in Hun Sen's coalition government from 1998 to 2004. She is currently one of 118 senior opposition figures serving a five-year ban from politics following a court ruling on 16 November 2017.

1997 clashes in Cambodia

The 1997 clashes in Cambodia, also referred to as the 1997 coup in Cambodia, took place in Cambodia in July to September 1997. As a result, co-premier Hun Sen ousted the other co-premier Norodom Ranariddh. Dozens of people were killed during the conflict.

1993 Cambodian general election

General elections were held in Cambodia between 23 and 28 May 1993. The result was a hung parliament with the FUNCINPEC Party being the largest party with 58 seats. Voter turnout was 89.56%. The elections were conducted by the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC), which also maintained peacekeeping troops in Cambodia throughout the election and the period after it.

1998 Cambodian general election

General elections were held in Cambodia on 26 July 1998. The result was a victory for the Cambodian People's Party (CPP), which won 64 of the 122 seats, resulting in its leader Hun Sen becoming Prime Minister. Opposition parties sought a recount and claimed there had been irregularities, claims supported by many international observers. Voter turnout was 93.7%.

2013 Cambodian general election

General elections were held in Cambodia on 28 July 2013. The National Election Committee (NEC) announced that some 9.67 million Cambodians were eligible to cast their ballots to elect the 123-seat National Assembly. Voter turnout was reported to be 69.6%, making it the lowest turnout in history. Polling precincts opened 7:00 a.m. and closed at 3:00 p.m. The Cambodian Minister of Information, Khieu Kanharith announced in preliminary results that the Cambodian People's Party won 68 seats and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party won all the remaining 55 seats. This election marked the largest seat loss by the Cambodian People's Party to date, and their lowest share of seats since 1998.

Tboung Khmum Province Province in Cambodia

Tboung Khmum, officially Tbong Khmum, is a province (khaet) of Cambodia located on the central lowlands of the Mekong River. It borders the provinces of Kampong Cham to the west, Kratié to the north, Prey Veng to the south, and shares an international border with Vietnam to the east. Its capital and largest city is Suong. The province's name consists of two words in Khmer, tboung and khmum (bee), which together mean "amber".

2018 Cambodian general election

General elections were held in Cambodia on Sunday, 29 July 2018 to elect members of the sixth National Assembly. Polling stations opened at 07:00 and closed at 15:00. The number of registered voters has decreased for the first time since 1993 and was down 13% from the 2013 general elections.

References

  1. 1 2 Cambodian PM sets election date on July 27 next year Xinhua, 30 May 2007
  2. ↑ Fewer parties register for parliamentary election of Cambodia Xinhua
  3. ↑ Election committee: Less parties but more representation in Cambodian election 2008 Xinhua
  4. ↑ 11 parties finally approved to join parliamentary election of Cambodia Xinhua
  5. ↑ Ten parties approved to join parliamentary election of Cambodia Xinhua
  6. ↑ 2 Cambodian parties make alliance before general election Xinhua
  7. ↑ CAMBODIA: Polls Were Fair - EU Observer Archived 2008-08-04 at the Wayback Machine . IPS News
  8. ↑ EU criticises Cambodia election BBC News
  9. ↑ CPP claims 88 to 91 seats at National Assembly of Cambodia Xinhua
  10. ↑ Hun Sen rivals reject his election win in Cambodia Archived 2008-08-04 at the Wayback Machine . AFP
  11. ↑ CPP takes lead in 4th general election of Cambodia Xinhua
  12. ↑ Hun Sen claims Cambodia vote win Al Jazeera
  13. ↑ Political tensions driving temple row BBC News
  14. ↑ Cambodian ruling party heads to poll win Associated Press Archived August 4, 2008, at the Wayback Machine .
  15. ↑ Cambodian rulers claim poll win BBC News
  16. ↑ Cambodia's ruling party forms coalition, but says royals are out Monsters and Critics
  17. ↑ Cambodian opposition warned not to boycott NA Xinhua
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.