Elections in Cambodia
Encyclopedia
Cambodia elects on national level a legislature
. Parliament
has two chambers
.
The National Assembly of Cambodia
(Radhsphea ney Preah Recheanachakr Kampuchea) has 123 members, elected for a five year term by proportional representation
. The Senate
(Sénat) has 61 members, appointed by the king on recommendation of the parties
in the National Assembly.
Cambodia is a one party dominant state with the Cambodian People's Party
in power.
Since the signing of the 1991 Paris Peace Accords
ending decades of civil war and foreign occupation, and with the final elimination in 1998 of armed insurgency groups inside the country, three national elections have taken place in Cambodia in 1993, 1998 and 2003. The first national elections was administered by United Nations Transitional Authority for Cambodia (UNTAC) in July 1993, the first commune-level election was held in February 2002 and the Cambodian Senate
was elected for the first time by the elected commune council
officials in January 2006.
Three main political parties have dominated Cambodian politics over the last decade: the Cambodian People's Party
(CPP), the United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia (FUNCINPEC
) and, more recently, the Sam Rainsy Party
. Although the CPP dominated the elections held on July 27, 2003, it did not win the two-thirds majority required under the constitution to form a government on its own. A new government was formed on July 15, 2004 after protracted negotiations between the CPP and FUNCINPEC on forming a coalition government
.
In early 2006, the CPP further consolidated its hold on power by successfully passing through Parliament an amendment to the constitution that will allow for a 50% plus one majority in the National Assembly to form a government (instead of the two-thirds majority), thereby reducing its future reliance on FUNCINPEC or another coalition partner.
Sources:
List of Senators
Ruling party wins Cambodia poll
Seats gained:
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
. Parliament
Parliament of Cambodia
The Parliament of Cambodia is the bicameral legislature of the Government of Cambodia, consisting of the Senate and the National Assembly . The Parliament is composed of 181 members, 123 MPs and 58 Senators. The Constitution established the Kingdom of Cambodia as a constitutional monarchy based...
has two chambers
Bicameralism
In the government, bicameralism is the practice of having two legislative or parliamentary chambers. Thus, a bicameral parliament or bicameral legislature is a legislature which consists of two chambers or houses....
.
The National Assembly of Cambodia
National Assembly of Cambodia
The National Assembly of Cambodia or Radhsphea is the lower house of the Parliament of Cambodia.It has 123 members, elected for five year terms by proportional representation, using provinces as constituencies of 1 to 18 members, and the D'Hondt method of seat distribution.-Elections:Summary of the...
(Radhsphea ney Preah Recheanachakr Kampuchea) has 123 members, elected for a five year term by proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
. The Senate
Senate of Cambodia
The Senate of Cambodia is the upper house of the Parliament of Cambodia.According to the , The Senate is a body that has legislative power and performs its duties as determined in the constitution and law. The Senate consists of 58 members that the number of which does not exceed half of all of...
(Sénat) has 61 members, appointed by the king on recommendation of the parties
Political Parties
Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy is a book by sociologist Robert Michels, published in 1911 , and first introducing the concept of iron law of oligarchy...
in the National Assembly.
Cambodia is a one party dominant state with the Cambodian People's Party
Cambodian People's Party
The Cambodian People's Party is the current ruling party of Cambodia.This party was formerly known as Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Party...
in power.
Since the signing of the 1991 Paris Peace Accords
Paris Peace Accords
The Paris Peace Accords of 1973 intended to establish peace in Vietnam and an end to the Vietnam War, ended direct U.S. military involvement, and temporarily stopped the fighting between North and South Vietnam...
ending decades of civil war and foreign occupation, and with the final elimination in 1998 of armed insurgency groups inside the country, three national elections have taken place in Cambodia in 1993, 1998 and 2003. The first national elections was administered by United Nations Transitional Authority for Cambodia (UNTAC) in July 1993, the first commune-level election was held in February 2002 and the Cambodian Senate
Senate of Cambodia
The Senate of Cambodia is the upper house of the Parliament of Cambodia.According to the , The Senate is a body that has legislative power and performs its duties as determined in the constitution and law. The Senate consists of 58 members that the number of which does not exceed half of all of...
was elected for the first time by the elected commune council
Commune council
There are 1,621 Communes/Sangkats in Cambodia. Each Commune Council is composed of 5 to 11 members depending on demography and geography, elected through a proportional system where nationally registered political parties can compete by presenting a list of candidates of at least twice the number...
officials in January 2006.
Three main political parties have dominated Cambodian politics over the last decade: the Cambodian People's Party
Cambodian People's Party
The Cambodian People's Party is the current ruling party of Cambodia.This party was formerly known as Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Party...
(CPP), the United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia (FUNCINPEC
Funcinpec
FUNCINPEC is a royalist political party in Cambodia. Before the 2008 election, FUNCINPEC and the Cambodian People's Party formed a coalition government, although FUNCINPEC's significance has decreased steadily since 1998, when it had an equal relationship with the CPP in the coalition.FUNCINPEC is...
) and, more recently, the Sam Rainsy Party
Sam Rainsy Party
The Sam Rainsy Party is a personalist and more or less liberal party in Cambodia. The party is a member of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats...
. Although the CPP dominated the elections held on July 27, 2003, it did not win the two-thirds majority required under the constitution to form a government on its own. A new government was formed on July 15, 2004 after protracted negotiations between the CPP and FUNCINPEC on forming a coalition government
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
.
In early 2006, the CPP further consolidated its hold on power by successfully passing through Parliament an amendment to the constitution that will allow for a 50% plus one majority in the National Assembly to form a government (instead of the two-thirds majority), thereby reducing its future reliance on FUNCINPEC or another coalition partner.
Latest elections
- July 27, 2008 Elections Results
- January 22, 2006 Senate Elections Results
Political Parties # seats won | # votes estimated CPP Cambodian People's PartyThe Cambodian People's Party is the current ruling party of Cambodia.This party was formerly known as Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Party...43 7,854 FUNCINPEC FuncinpecFUNCINPEC is a royalist political party in Cambodia. Before the 2008 election, FUNCINPEC and the Cambodian People's Party formed a coalition government, although FUNCINPEC's significance has decreased steadily since 1998, when it had an equal relationship with the CPP in the coalition.FUNCINPEC is...9 2,320 Sam Rainsy Party Sam Rainsy PartyThe Sam Rainsy Party is a personalist and more or less liberal party in Cambodia. The party is a member of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats...2 1,165 Total 54 11,352
Sources:
List of Senators
Ruling party wins Cambodia poll
Past elections
The country's first elections since the 1970s took place from May 23-28 in 1993. Percent of vote per party:- FUNCINPECFuncinpecFUNCINPEC is a royalist political party in Cambodia. Before the 2008 election, FUNCINPEC and the Cambodian People's Party formed a coalition government, although FUNCINPEC's significance has decreased steadily since 1998, when it had an equal relationship with the CPP in the coalition.FUNCINPEC is...
- 45% - Cambodian People's PartyCambodian People's PartyThe Cambodian People's Party is the current ruling party of Cambodia.This party was formerly known as Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Party...
- 38% - Buddhist Liberal Democratic PartyBuddhist Liberal Democratic PartyThe Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party was a Cambodian political party founded in 1993 by former Cambodian Prime Minister Son Sann. The BLDP was created as a successor to the Khmer People's National Liberation Front , an anti-communist group also started by Son Sann.-1993 Cambodian election:The...
- 10% - Minor parties - 7%
Seats gained:
- FUNCINPECFuncinpecFUNCINPEC is a royalist political party in Cambodia. Before the 2008 election, FUNCINPEC and the Cambodian People's Party formed a coalition government, although FUNCINPEC's significance has decreased steadily since 1998, when it had an equal relationship with the CPP in the coalition.FUNCINPEC is...
- 58 seats - Cambodian People's PartyCambodian People's PartyThe Cambodian People's Party is the current ruling party of Cambodia.This party was formerly known as Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Party...
- 51 seats - Buddhist Liberal Democratic PartyBuddhist Liberal Democratic PartyThe Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party was a Cambodian political party founded in 1993 by former Cambodian Prime Minister Son Sann. The BLDP was created as a successor to the Khmer People's National Liberation Front , an anti-communist group also started by Son Sann.-1993 Cambodian election:The...
- 10 seats - Molinaka Party - 1 seat
External links
- Cambodia Development Resource Institute (CDRI) - Development policy research institute
- Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL) - NGO
- Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (COFFEL) - NGO