| English.news.cn 2013-08-02 23:32:59 |
   
 
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by Nguon Sovan
PHNOM PENH, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- The ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) can still form a new government even if the opposition party boycotts the opening ceremony of the new National Assembly, Chheang Von, a senior member of the CPP, said Friday.
The CPP, led by long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen, won the absolute majority with 68 parliamentary seats in Sunday's election while the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) headed by recently-pardoned leader Sam Rainsy got the remaining 55 seats, according to the initial unofficial results.
"According to the constitution, a new government will be formed by a 50 percent plus one majority in the new National Assembly," Chheang Von, chairman of the parliament's foreign affairs commission, told Xinhua in an interview.
He said that incumbent Prime Minister Hun Sen will serve as prime minister for a new five-year term.
Some political analysts here said that the opening of the new parliament needs a quorum of at least 120 out of the 123 elected lawmakers. They said that a new government will probably be delayed if the opposition lawmakers boycott the opening of the new National Assembly.
"The opening of a new parliament will be presided over by His Majesty Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, and there is no quorum limitation," Chheang Von said.
"Soon after the official election results are released, the new parliament will be opened even if the opposition refuses to recognize it."
Chheang Von explained that according to the constitution, the National Assembly would consist of at least 120 members.
"The number of at least 120 lawmakers is the size of the National Assembly and does not mean that at least 120 members are required to attend the opening ceremony of the new parliament," he said, stressing that the parliament needs a quorum only for the passage of laws and adopting constitutional amendments and not for the opening of the new parliament.
According to the law, he said, after the opening ceremony of the new parliament, the first parliamentary session, led by a dean, will be held with the quorum of 50 percent plus one majority in order to decide on the validity of the assumption of the elected lawmakers and to vote for the establishment of the new government.
"If some lawmakers fail to show up in the first parliamentary session, it means that they have decided to abandon their seats," Chheang Von said.
The constitution provides that a new National Assembly will be established not later than 60 days after the election.
According to Chheang Von, it would be impossible for the ruling CPP to form a coalition government with the opposition party because it is contrary to the democratic principle that requires an opposition party aside from the governing party.
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy refused to recognize the results of Sunday polls, claiming widespread fraud.
He has formally submitted a petition with the National Election Committee (NEC) demanding for the creation of an independent committee to investigate alleged irregularities during the election.
Rainsy, however, has not announced that his party will boycott the opening session of the National Assembly.
Hun Sen said Wednesday that the government and the CPP will welcome any NEC mechanism that would allow the participation of political parties and non-governmental organizations in solving election-related problems.
"I think this is a positive way to solve the remaining issues and to show transparency and find a solution that can be acceptable to all sides," the premier said.
So far, the NEC has not made any official decision in response to the opposition's request for the independent committee to look into the alleged irregularities.
Hun Sen, who has been in power for 28 years, will serve for another five years after his party's victory in Sunday's polls.
Despite its victory, the overall result in last Sunday's voting was a blow to the ruling CPP as it was able to get only 68 seats, a big drop from the 90 seats that it got in the 2008 election.
In Sunday's election, the opposition CNRP showed a dramatic rise in the people's support by winning 55 seats, up from just 29 seats in 2008.
PHNOM PENH, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- The ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) can still form a new government even if the opposition party boycotts the opening ceremony of the new National Assembly, Chheang Von, a senior member of the CPP, said Friday.
The CPP, led by long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen, won the absolute majority with 68 parliamentary seats in Sunday's election while the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) headed by recently-pardoned leader Sam Rainsy got the remaining 55 seats, according to the initial unofficial results.
"According to the constitution, a new government will be formed by a 50 percent plus one majority in the new National Assembly," Chheang Von, chairman of the parliament's foreign affairs commission, told Xinhua in an interview.
He said that incumbent Prime Minister Hun Sen will serve as prime minister for a new five-year term.
Some political analysts here said that the opening of the new parliament needs a quorum of at least 120 out of the 123 elected lawmakers. They said that a new government will probably be delayed if the opposition lawmakers boycott the opening of the new National Assembly.
"The opening of a new parliament will be presided over by His Majesty Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, and there is no quorum limitation," Chheang Von said.
"Soon after the official election results are released, the new parliament will be opened even if the opposition refuses to recognize it."
Chheang Von explained that according to the constitution, the National Assembly would consist of at least 120 members.
"The number of at least 120 lawmakers is the size of the National Assembly and does not mean that at least 120 members are required to attend the opening ceremony of the new parliament," he said, stressing that the parliament needs a quorum only for the passage of laws and adopting constitutional amendments and not for the opening of the new parliament.
According to the law, he said, after the opening ceremony of the new parliament, the first parliamentary session, led by a dean, will be held with the quorum of 50 percent plus one majority in order to decide on the validity of the assumption of the elected lawmakers and to vote for the establishment of the new government.
"If some lawmakers fail to show up in the first parliamentary session, it means that they have decided to abandon their seats," Chheang Von said.
The constitution provides that a new National Assembly will be established not later than 60 days after the election.
According to Chheang Von, it would be impossible for the ruling CPP to form a coalition government with the opposition party because it is contrary to the democratic principle that requires an opposition party aside from the governing party.
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy refused to recognize the results of Sunday polls, claiming widespread fraud.
He has formally submitted a petition with the National Election Committee (NEC) demanding for the creation of an independent committee to investigate alleged irregularities during the election.
Rainsy, however, has not announced that his party will boycott the opening session of the National Assembly.
Hun Sen said Wednesday that the government and the CPP will welcome any NEC mechanism that would allow the participation of political parties and non-governmental organizations in solving election-related problems.
"I think this is a positive way to solve the remaining issues and to show transparency and find a solution that can be acceptable to all sides," the premier said.
So far, the NEC has not made any official decision in response to the opposition's request for the independent committee to look into the alleged irregularities.
Hun Sen, who has been in power for 28 years, will serve for another five years after his party's victory in Sunday's polls.
Despite its victory, the overall result in last Sunday's voting was a blow to the ruling CPP as it was able to get only 68 seats, a big drop from the 90 seats that it got in the 2008 election.
In Sunday's election, the opposition CNRP showed a dramatic rise in the people's support by winning 55 seats, up from just 29 seats in 2008.
Editor:
Mu Xuequan
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