A draft law to mandate single nationality for the prime minister and presidents of the Senate, National Assembly (NA) and Constitutional Council was approved by the Council of Ministers on October 8 and expected to reach the NA soon.

Government spokesman Phay Siphan said the council passed the draft amendment to articles 19, 82, 106, 119 and 137 of the Constitution and articles 3 and 4 of the Additional Constitutional Law tending to ensure the regular functioning of national institutions.

He explained that the government, NA, Senate and Constitutional Council are top national institutions as stated in the Constitution. These institutions are responsible for making decisions deemed a matter of life and death for the nation, such as ensuring national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“[The amendment] aims to protect national interests and the people of Cambodia from interference into the internal affairs of the nation, or to prevent external [influence] on the country's national and foreign policy,” Siphan said.

If promulgated, he said, the laws mandate that the prime minister, all members of the legislative bodies and Constitutional Council have only one Khmer citizenship at birth.

The laws also require the president and vice-presidents of the National Election Committee to have a single Khmer nationality at birth.