Former Prime Minister Hun Sen during the 5th Senate Election in Kandal Province on February 25. SHS
As scheduled, the National Election Committee (NEC) announced the official results of the 5th Senate election on March 5, following the February 25 election in eight constituencies nationwide and after a 72-hour period without receiving complaints from the contesting political parties.
The non-general election saw incumbent lawmakers and commune councillors elect 58 members of the Senate. The King and the National Assembly will each appoint two Senators.
NEC chairman Prach Chan stated in an announcement that during the fifth legislature Senate election, the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) secured 10,052 votes, equating to 55 seats, while the Khmer Will Party (KWP) – a coalition of opposition parties – obtained 1,394 votes, resulting in three seats.
The coalition was the merge of four political parties: CP, KWP, Grassroots Democratic (GDP) and Cambodia Reform (KRP), after the main opposition, CP, was disqualified from the 2023 general election for not complying with the NEC’s rules and regulations.
The royalist FUNCINPEC received 19 votes and the Nation Power Party (NPP) garnered 234 votes, but neither party won seats.
Following the results, the CPP issued a statement solemnly accepting the official results. The party viewed the outcome as a “true reflection” of the Cambodian people’s desire to maintain peace and continue driving socio-economic development to enhance their livelihoods.
“This victory provides an additional advantage for the CPP’s leadership in successfully implementing the party's platform for Nation Building and Defence 2023-28,” the statement read.
The CPP spoke highly of the NEC’s performance of duties, saying it adhered to an independent, impartial, transparent and fair approach in conducting the election at every stage in accordance with the Constitution, laws, rules, procedures and ethics.
“The fifth legislature, led by the CPP and [Hun Sen] as president, will continue the Senate’s historic mission, strictly respecting Cambodia’s Constitution to efficiently carry out every Senate task,” it added.
The CPP reiterated its commitment to strengthening solidarity and national unity, maintaining peace, political stability, security and public order, and upholding independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, all while fostering national development.
Kimsour Phirith, head of the disciplinary council of the KWP, was unavailable for comment on March 5. However, a statement from the party in February indicated that despite not achieving their expected results, the party respected the decisions of all commune councilors who voted.
“The KWP extends gratitude to all commune councillors who voted for the party – the sole representative of the Candlelight Party [CP] – in the election,” the statement said.
The NEC confirmed that within 72 hours after announcing the preliminary results of the 5th Senate election, neither the commission nor the Constitutional Council – the Kingdom’s supreme legislative body – had received any complaints, thereby rendering the preliminary results official.
The commission broadcasted the allocation of seats and elected candidates on the National Television of Cambodia (TVK), National Radio of Cambodia (RNK) and the NEC’s official social media platforms.
