National Election Committee (NEC) members prepare to count the ballots that were cast during the capital/provincial and district/municipal council elections, held on May 26. NEC
The ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) claimed an overwhelming 504 of the 559 capital/provincial council seats on offer in the May 26 elections.
The Khmer Will Party (KWP) won 47 of the remaining places, with the final 8 going to the Nation Power Party (NPP), according to the official results, announced by the National Election Committee (NEC) on June 4.
The NEC explained that 99.7 per cent of the 11,622 eligible voters went to the 209 nationwide polling stations to cast their ballots. The council elections do not feature universal suffrage, with commune council members permitted to vote. Five parties contested the elections.
The official results showed that the CPP won 3,257 seats out of the Kingdom’s 3,641 district/town seats, with the KWP taking 312. The Nation Power Party claimed 69.
The royalist party FUNCINPEC and the Khmer National United Party (KNUP) failed to capture any capital/provincial spots but claimed district/town places in Kampong Thom and Banteay Meanchey, respectively. FUNCINPEC took two seats, while KNUP earned one.
The number of seats varies, with Phnom Penh and Battambang, Kampong Cham, Kandal, Prey Veng, Siem Reap and Takeo provinces each made up of 27 seats. The provinces with the fewest are Mondulkiri, Kep and Pailin, with 15 each.
The CPP issued a June 4 statement accepting the official results.
“These results truly reflect the precious will of the Cambodian people through their commune council members, who are their representatives at all levels and continue to intensify socio-economic development and improve their livelihoods,” it said.
