• Politics

The CPP Convenes an Extraordinary Meeting to Set Goals for the General Elections

• By Torn Chanritheara
• July 16, 2022 2:25 PM

PHNOM PENH - - The ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) has convened a two-day extraordinary convention of its central committee to discuss the results of the 2022 commune elections and set goals for the 2023 general elections, aiming for another victory that would extend its rule for one more term.

Prime Minister Hun Sen, who serves as the party’s president, and Honorary President Heng Samrin, who is president of the National Assembly, are presiding over the meeting held on July 16 and 17. Taking place at the CPP headquarters in Phnom Penh, it is attended by 3,472 officials including the 865 members of the party’s central committee, members of the party’s permanent committee, and officials from the country’s various states and party’s organizations.

In his opening remarks at the meeting on July 16, Samrin said that the CPP’s recent victory in the commune elections shows that Cambodia needs the leadership of the CPP to steer the country toward growth and prosperity.

This triumph at the polls didn’t come without obstacles or challenges, he said. “Because the party is politically correct, has the support of the people, a strong organizational structure with virtuous and capable human resources, strong internal unity, and has the right way of working, we can overcome all difficulties,” Samrin said.

The long-time CPP leader also noted that the party always convenes after concluding any mission to study its strength and weaknesses prior to the next step.

In the commune elections held on June 5, 2022, the CPP won more than 8,630 commune council seats and secured 1,648 commune chief positions. The party obtained 5.3 million votes or 74.32 percent of the 7.3 million votes cast.

“The election process was free, fair and just, [conducted] in a neutral manner​ with security, order, no violence or threats,” Samrin stressed.

During his speech, he told the CPP committee members that there always is cause and effect in an event, and that during the 2-day meeting, they would look into the cause and effects of the commune election results and, based on this analysis, they would determine how to lead the party to victory in the general elections set for July 23, 2023. The CPP had swept all the 125 seats in the 2018 national elections.

Hun Sen is expected to deliver a speech during the 2-day meeting. According to Samrin, important issues other than the upcoming elections may be discussed during the meeting if necessary.

This meeting was called as the CPP-led government moved to amend the constitution for the 10th time since the constitution came into effect in 1993. According to Minister of Justice Keut Rith, this is meant to fill the gap in the event of a potential power vacuum.  

The amendment proposal, which has prompted criticisms from opposition politicians and rights NGOs, is now into the legislative hands—controlled by the CPP—having obtained the greenlight from the Cabinet and the Constitutional Council. If passed, it will be sent to King Norodom Sihamoni to be signed.