Political Party Leaders Vow to Strengthen Capacity Next Term
- By Romdoul Chetra
- July 25, 2023 7:30 PM
PHNOM PENH – Several political parties which haven’t earned seats at the National Assembly have released statements endorsing the election and acknowledging the results. They are devoted to enhancing their capacity for the next general election.
Yeng Virak, the president of the Grassroots Democratic Party (GDP), expressed his sadness that his party could not get enough votes to elect representatives in the National Assembly following the July 23 national election.
“Unofficial results have been released. I saw them and I respect the voters' choice,” he said.
He acknowledged that, while his party was created to bring another option for the people to vote for and to improve Cambodia’s democracy, Cambodians have decided not to show support.
According to preliminary results from the National Election Committee (NEC), covering 98 percent of the votes counted, the GDP gathered only 0.4 percent of the ballots cast.
“Even if not enough Cambodians voted for me so that I could claim a seat, I don’t feel disappointed,” he said. “I have never aspired to any position; I have been doing the job with a clear conscience and integrity and I am willing to work to maintain the ideal and strengthen the strong stance despite the obstacles.”
Despite not being elected to the National Assembly, Yeng Virak recognized that the work done by his party in the past had not been in vain because it served as a model for democratic politics based on integrity and non-violent policies.
The Democracy Power Party's President, Un Visethkun, acknowledged the party's election outcomes. According to the NEC’s preliminary results, his party won 0.2 percent of the votes.
In a five-minute video, he claimed that even though his party did not get the outcomes he had hoped for, he still felt happy because it had only been engaged in politics for three years.
“Altogether, the Democracy Power Party received thousands of votes, which we are satisfied with. We hope that in the next election, we will receive a seat in the National Assembly,” he said.
He also called on the people not to engage in political discrimination against his party and other unelected parties and to give all parties the opportunity to participate in political activities to serve the people and the interests of society.
He added that he is committed to pushing all the members of his party to come up with new policies and strategies to improve their results in the next election.
Kuch Ly, the president of the Khmer United Party, also issued a short statement on July 24 expressing his views and support for the election results.
He said that the election process was free, fair, and just, in accordance with the principles of a liberal and multi-party democracy. Khmer United Party won 0.4 percent of the votes.
Mam Sonando, the 81-year-old president of the Beehive Social Democratic Party, which claimed 0.2 percent of the votes, said he accepts the results of the election and doesn’t demand any revision.
Despite the poor performance of his party, he said he will continue his political career until his last breath.
While the final results are still pending, it is clear that only two parties will be represented in the Parliament’s lower chamber. Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) is due to receive 120 seats and Prince Norodom Chakravuth’s Funcinpec 5 seats.
Originally written in Khmer for ThmeyThmey, this story was translated by Te Chhaysinh for Cambodianess.
