Prime Minister Hun Sen presides over the opening of the new ‘Court of Justice’ building on June 26. SPM
Prime Minister Hun Sen has set August 28 as the date for the inaugural session of the 7th-mandate National Assembly (NA) and August 29 for the formation of the new government, should his ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) win the July 23 general election. The parliamentary session would be presided over by King Norodom Sihamoni.
Hun Sen revealed the dates while addressing the opening of the new “Court of Justice” building that serves both the Phnom Penh Municipal Court and Court of Appeal, located in Prek Leap commune of the capital’s Chroy Changvar district, on June 26.
“If the July 23 general election goes smoothly, with no run offs required and no outstanding issues that need to be addressed by the National Election Committee [NEC] or Constitutional Council, the election results will be declared. Once that is official, the NA will hold its first session on August 28, and on August 29, a new government will be born,” he said.
“This is our calendar for forming a new government, post-election. If the CPP win the election, this will be our plan, but if another party wins, they will be responsible,” he explained.
According to Hun Sen, the King is tasked by the Constitution to open the NA’s first session and preside over the oath-taking of lawmakers. Then, he will issue a Royal Decree announcing the appointment of a new prime minister and government.
Sam Kuntheamy, executive director of the NGO Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (NICFEC), said there is a strong possibility that the CPP will win next month’s election.
Nevertheless, he said the date that was suggested seemed early, when compared to previous mandates.
He added that there are a total 18 political parties contesting this year’s elections, so it was possible that there would be complaints about possible irregularities that would have to be investigated by the Constitutional Council. If any complaints remained unresolved, the first parliamentary session could not start, so a new government could not be formed.
“Only when all complaints have been dealt with can an official result be declared. It is possible that one of the competing parties will lay a complaint, but perhaps the prime minister has confidence that his party will win, and has planned accordingly,” he added.
NA spokesman Leng Peng Long could not be reached for comment on June 26.
Government spokesman Phay Siphan said the prime minister had revealed the dates based on a proposed calendar, which he said was standard practice.
