| English.news.cn 2013-07-19 17:14:19 |
   
 
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by Wang Qibing, Nguon Sovan
PHNOM PENH, July 19 (Xinhua) -- The return of charismatic opposition leader Sam Rainsy posed "no threat" to the popularity of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) of longtime Prime Minister Hun Sen in the fifth parliamentary polls on July 28, officials and academics said Friday.
"The CPP has no surprise, concern, or shock over the return of recently-pardoned Sam Rainsy," senior lawmaker Cheam Yeap, CPP's central committee member, told Xinhua.
"We have built this country for 34 years from bare hands and gained a landslide support from the people, winning up to 90 seats out of the 123 seats in the National Assembly in the last elections."
He said currently, the party has 5.7 million members and he predicts that the party is expected to win at least two-thirds majority in the upcoming parliamentary polls.
Sam Rainy, president of the Cambodia National Rescue Party ( CNRP), returned to Cambodia on Friday morning after spending nearly four years abroad in self-imposed exile to avoid an 11-year prison sentence on charges of disinformation and destruction of public property.
His return came after His Majesty Norodom Sihamoni, the King of Cambodia, granted him a royal pardon last Friday at the request of Prime Minister Hun Sen on the grounds of national unification and reconciliation.
CNRP's spokesman Yim Sovann said at least 40,000 supporters rallied to greet Sam Rainsy's return, causing traffic jams on the road in front of the airport for hours.
CPP's senior lawmaker Chheang Vun said Sam Rainsy's presence posed "no threat" to the CPP's popularity at all.
"His presence is of no concern to us. If we were concerned, Prime Minister Hun Sen would not ask the king to pardon him," he said.
Phay Siphan, a CPP member and spokesman for the Council of Ministers, said the ruling party has built numerous achievements for the nation and gained the most support from the people.
"We are no worry at all over the opposition leader's return,"he said. "Sam Rainsy's return is thanks to our Prime Minister Hun Sen. "
He said Sam Rainsy's presence reflected a national unification and reconciliation ahead of the national polls.
Chheang Vannarith, lecturer of Asia Pacific Studies at the Leeds University in the Britain, agreed that the return of the opposition leader would not threaten the predominant role of the ruling party of Hun Sen, who has been in power for 28 years and vowed to rule the country for another decade.
"However, it's a warning sign for the ruling party," he said." Without serious reform, the ruling CPP may lose its dominant role in the future."
Eight parties will compete in the forthcoming elections with about 9.67 million eligible voters.
Two main parties are Hun Sen's party and Sam Rainsy's party.
In the last elections in July 2008, Hun Sen's party won 90 seats out of the 123 seats in the National Assembly, while the opposition group gained a total of 29 seats.
PHNOM PENH, July 19 (Xinhua) -- The return of charismatic opposition leader Sam Rainsy posed "no threat" to the popularity of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) of longtime Prime Minister Hun Sen in the fifth parliamentary polls on July 28, officials and academics said Friday.
"The CPP has no surprise, concern, or shock over the return of recently-pardoned Sam Rainsy," senior lawmaker Cheam Yeap, CPP's central committee member, told Xinhua.
"We have built this country for 34 years from bare hands and gained a landslide support from the people, winning up to 90 seats out of the 123 seats in the National Assembly in the last elections."
He said currently, the party has 5.7 million members and he predicts that the party is expected to win at least two-thirds majority in the upcoming parliamentary polls.
Sam Rainy, president of the Cambodia National Rescue Party ( CNRP), returned to Cambodia on Friday morning after spending nearly four years abroad in self-imposed exile to avoid an 11-year prison sentence on charges of disinformation and destruction of public property.
His return came after His Majesty Norodom Sihamoni, the King of Cambodia, granted him a royal pardon last Friday at the request of Prime Minister Hun Sen on the grounds of national unification and reconciliation.
CNRP's spokesman Yim Sovann said at least 40,000 supporters rallied to greet Sam Rainsy's return, causing traffic jams on the road in front of the airport for hours.
CPP's senior lawmaker Chheang Vun said Sam Rainsy's presence posed "no threat" to the CPP's popularity at all.
"His presence is of no concern to us. If we were concerned, Prime Minister Hun Sen would not ask the king to pardon him," he said.
Phay Siphan, a CPP member and spokesman for the Council of Ministers, said the ruling party has built numerous achievements for the nation and gained the most support from the people.
"We are no worry at all over the opposition leader's return,"he said. "Sam Rainsy's return is thanks to our Prime Minister Hun Sen. "
He said Sam Rainsy's presence reflected a national unification and reconciliation ahead of the national polls.
Chheang Vannarith, lecturer of Asia Pacific Studies at the Leeds University in the Britain, agreed that the return of the opposition leader would not threaten the predominant role of the ruling party of Hun Sen, who has been in power for 28 years and vowed to rule the country for another decade.
"However, it's a warning sign for the ruling party," he said." Without serious reform, the ruling CPP may lose its dominant role in the future."
Eight parties will compete in the forthcoming elections with about 9.67 million eligible voters.
Two main parties are Hun Sen's party and Sam Rainsy's party.
In the last elections in July 2008, Hun Sen's party won 90 seats out of the 123 seats in the National Assembly, while the opposition group gained a total of 29 seats.
Editor:
Yang Lina
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