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2018 Cambodian Senate election

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2018 Cambodian Senate election
Cambodia
← 2012 25 February 2018 2024 →

58 of the 62 seats in the Senate
31 seats needed for a majority
Turnout99.79% (Increase0.30pp)
Party Leader Vote % Seats +/–
CPP Say Chhum 96.05 58 +12
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.

Senate elections were held in Cambodia on 25 February 2018 after being postponed from 14 January 2018.[1][2] For the first time, the Senate and parliamentary elections occurred in the same year. The result was a victory for the CPP, which won all 58 seats.[3] King Norodom Sihamoni nominated Princess Norodom Arunrasmy and Oum Somanin to the Senate.[4]

Background

[edit]

On 11 February 2017, Rainsy resigned as President of the CNRP, and was succeeded by Sokha.[5] On 3 September, Sokha was arrested and charged with treason, raising questions about the party's future.[6] Another act of repression by the government was the closure of the Cambodia Daily newspaper.[7] On 16 November 2017, the CNRP was forcibly dissolved, eliminating any real challenge to the long-ruling CPP.[8] Its seats in parliament were distributed to three other parties.[9] The CNRP was dissolved and revoked the voting rights of its commune councilors and parliamentarians, leading to the arrest of Kem Sokha, a leader of the CNRP, who was arrested on charges of conspiring to overthrow the government with the help of the US. The US and Khem Sokha have both denied the allegations.[10]

Electoral system

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The Senate of Cambodia is elected every 6 years by an indirect party-list proportional representation through 8 multi members constituencies (regions), with the Communal Chiefs, Communal Councilors, Members of the National Assembly.[11]

Regions Seats
Region 1 6
Region 2 8
Region 3 5
Region 4 10
Region 5 7
Region 6 7
Region 7 9
Region 8 6
Regions Provinces
Region 1 Phnom Penh
Region 2 Kampong Cham, Tboung Khmum
Region 3 Kandal
Region 4 Banteay Meachey, Battambang, Siem Reap, Pailin, Oddar Meanchey
Region 5 Kampot, Kep, Takeo
Region 6 Prey Veng, Svay Rieng
Region 7 Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Speu, Preah Sihanouk, Koh Kong, Pursat
Region 8 Kampong Thom, Preah Vihear, Kratie, Strung Treng, Ratanakiri, Mondulkiri

Conduct

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According to the National Election Committee (NEC), three political parties running in next week's Senate election have done virtually little campaigning, which NGOs attribute to the dissolution of the main opposition party. The Cambodian Youth Party, the Khmer National United Party, and Funcinpec are these parties. Sotheara Yoeurng, legal and monitoring officer of the Cambodian Committee for Free and Fair Elections, claimed the three parties were scarcely campaigning owing to the dissolution of the CNRP. Prior to the next Senate election on February 25, the NEC has prohibited all political parties from campaigning on nine key boulevards in Phnom Penh.[12]

The Ballot was arranged in the order of the following:[13]

Ballot Numbers Parties
1) CPP
2) CYP
3) KNUP
4) FUNCINPEC

Results

[edit]
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Cambodian People's Party11,20296.0558+12
FUNCINPEC2762.370New
Khmer National United Party1821.560New
Cambodian Youth Party30.030New
Members appointed by National Assembly[14]20
Members appointed by Monarch[15]20
Total11,663100.0062+1
Valid votes11,66399.94
Invalid/blank votes70.06
Total votes11,670100.00
Registered voters/turnout11,69599.79
Source: Khmer Times

Results by region

[edit]
Province CPP FUNCINPEC KNUP CYP Total
Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats
Region 1 897 98.57% 6 11 1.21% 0 2 0.22% 0 0 0% 0 910
Region 2 1,305 95.33% 8 45 3.29% 0 16 1.17% 0 3 0.22% 0 1,369
Region 3 871 94.37% 5 44 4.77% 0 8 0.87% 0 0 0% 0 923
Region 4 2,054 92.77% 10 81 3.66% 0 79 3.57% 0 0 0% 0 2,214
Region 5 1,324 98.95% 7 14 1.05% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 1,338
Region 6 1,395 97.83% 7 18 1.26% 0 13 0.91% 0 0 0% 0 1,426
Region 7 1,682 97.23% 9 32 1.85% 0 16 0.92% 0 0 0% 0 1,730
Region 8 1,674 95.49% 6 47 2.68% 0 32 1.83% 0 0 0% 0 1,753
Source: NEC[16]

Elected Senators

[edit]
Party Name
(Nominated by King) Norodom Arunrasmey
(Nominated by King) Oum Somanin
FUNCINPEC Chea Chantevy
FUNCINPEC Suon Mean
Cambodian People's Party Soeuy Keo
Cambodian People's Party Mom Chim Huy
Cambodian People's Party Ty Borasy
Cambodian People's Party Thong Chan
Cambodian People's Party Ouk Bunchhoeun
Cambodian People's Party Suon Lon
Cambodian People's Party Yong Sem
Cambodian People's Party Lao Meng Khin
Cambodian People's Party Sok Yat
Cambodian People's Party Say Chhum
Cambodian People's Party Sok Eysan
Cambodian People's Party Tep Ngorn
Cambodian People's Party Chan Nareth
Cambodian People's Party Nam Toum
Cambodian People's Party Chhit Kimyeat
Cambodian People's Party Kong Sarath
Cambodian People's Party Lay Piseth
Cambodian People's Party Chea Cheth
Cambodian People's Party Sim Ka
Cambodian People's Party Ney Pena
Cambodian People's Party Kun Net
Cambodian People's Party Ok Kong
Cambodian People's Party Seng Siphy
Cambodian People's Party Ok Kong
Cambodian People's Party Pol Lim
Cambodian People's Party Men Chhoeun
Cambodian People's Party An Sum
Cambodian People's Party Hem Khorn
Cambodian People's Party Chung Kimsran
Cambodian People's Party Khieu Muth
Cambodian People's Party Muong Poy
Cambodian People's Party Tim Phan
Cambodian People's Party Choung Veng
Cambodian People's Party Lan Chhorn
Cambodian People's Party Chuan Leng
Cambodian People's Party
Cambodian People's Party Men Siphan
Cambodian People's Party O Sokhom
Cambodian People's Party Kok An
Cambodian People's Party Mong Rithy
Cambodian People's Party Prak Chamroeun
Cambodian People's Party Nhem Samorn
Cambodian People's Party
Cambodian People's Party Kim Thea
Cambodian People's Party Say Borin
Cambodian People's Party Srey Ben
Cambodian People's Party Sam An
Cambodian People's Party
Cambodian People's Party Mam Bunheang
Cambodian People's Party Si Vanath
Cambodian People's Party Chim Lav
Cambodian People's Party Ly Yong Phat
Cambodian People's Party Tep Yuthy
Cambodian People's Party Chheuy Channa
Cambodian People's Party Ly Sary
Cambodian People's Party Chhay Vanna
Cambodian People's Party Khuon Khundy
Cambodian People's Party Heng Bora

Reactions

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FUNCINPEC

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Nhep Bunchin, spokesman for FUNCINPEC, stated the official results did not differ from the preliminary results and that party still supports the election outcome.[17]

Cambodian Youth Party

[edit]

The CYP's President Pich Sros supported the statement made by FUNCINPEC and stated, "I don't think there was anything wrong with the election".[17]

Khmer National United Party

[edit]

Run Meatra the spokesman for the party stated, that the party supports the outcome of the election that it was free and fair.[17]

Aftermath

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After the election which saw CPP hold all 58 elected seats, the King nominated Princess Norodom Arunrasmy and Oum Somanin to the Senate[4] and the National Assembly elected two Funcinpec members to the Senate, bringing the 62-member legislative body dominated by the ruling Cambodian People's Party to a close.[18]

References

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  1. ^ "Hun Sen sets Senate elections for January". The Phnom Penh Post. 19 June 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  2. ^ "Cambodia postpones Senate election to Feb. 25 next year - Xinhua | English.news.cn". Archived from the original on October 27, 2017.
  3. ^ "Cambodia's Ruling Party to Sweep Senate in Election Without Opposition". Voice of America. 11 February 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  4. ^ a b "CPP claims all 58 seats up for grabs in Senate".
  5. ^ Prak Chan Thul (11 February 2017). "Cambodia opposition leader Rainsy resigns from party". Reuters. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  6. ^ "Cambodia Arrests Opposition Leader, Accusing Him of Treason". The New York Times. 3 September 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  7. ^ "Cambodia's government is preparing for elections with repression". The Economist. 7 September 2017.
  8. ^ "Supreme Court rules to dissolve CNRP". The Phnom Penh Post. 16 November 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  9. ^ "List of new National Assembly members approved". The Phnom Penh Post. 24 November 2017. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  10. ^ "EU threatens sanctions - Khmer Times". 2018-02-27. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
  11. ^ "ក្នុងការបម្រើជាតិ តើព្រឹទ្ធសភាកម្ពុជា មានតួនាទី ភារកិច្ច និងរចនាសម្ព័ន្ធអ្វីខ្លះ? បើចង់ជ្រាបច្បាស់ សូមរីករាយទស្សនាទាំងអស់គ្នា។ | By TV Senate of Cambodia | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
  12. ^ "'Little' campaigning done for Senate polls - Khmer Times". 2018-02-20. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
  13. ^ "Ruling party draws number one for Senate election - Khmer Times". 2018-01-08. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  14. ^ Two members of FUNCINPEC
  15. ^ Two independents
  16. ^ National Election Committee, NEC (2018). "Election Results of the 2018 Senate Election by Region" (in Khmer). Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  17. ^ a b c "Official Senate election results released - Khmer Times". 2018-03-04. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  18. ^ Nachemson, rew; Koemsoeun, Soth. "Two new Funcinpec members confirmed to Senate". www.phnompenhpost.com. Retrieved 2023-04-09.