Cambodia's parliament votes for new leadership

Cambodia's parliament votes for new leadership

Shanghai Daily | Aug 26,2014

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- One hundred and twenty-two of the 123 Cambodian lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties began to vote for their leadership in the legislative body on Tuesday.

The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP)'s 55 lawmakers ended their 10-month-long boycott of parliament after Prime Minister Hun Sen, vice-president of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP), and CNRP President Sam Rainsy last month reached an agreement to end their differences over last year's election that resulted in the CPP winning 68 seats against 55 seats for the CNRP.

Under the deal, the CNRP controls the post of the first vice- president of parliament and chairs five of the 10 commissions in the legislative body. Moreover, it will hold four of the nine seats on the would-be National Election Committee.

Current parliament president Heng Samrin maintained the post while current first vice-president Nguon Nhel relinquished the post to the CNRP and became the second vice-president.

The CNRP's vice-president Kem Sokha was elected the first vice- president of parliament by a confidential vote. Of the 122 lawmakers participated in the ballot, 116 voted in favor of Kem Sokha, four voted against and two abstained.

The lawmakers are also voting for the chairpersons of the ten commissions in which five commissions are chaired by the CPP and the other five commissions are controlled by the CNRP based on their agreement on July 22.