Roundup: Cambodia's parliament leadership reshuffled, opposition holds 1st vice-president post

Global Post / Xinhua News | 26 August 2014

PHNOM PENH--All but one of the 123 lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties voted for their new leadership on Tuesday following the leaders of the two parties agreed to an unprecedented power-sharing deal in the legislative body last month.

Heng Samrin, honorary president of the ruling Cambodian People' s Party (CPP), remained the president of the National Assembly as the current first vice-president, Nguon Nhel relinquished that post to the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) and became second vice-president.

CNRP's vice-president Kem Sokha was elected as the first vice- president of the National Assembly by a confidential vote. Of the 122 lawmakers who were present at the parliamentary session, 116 voted in favor of Kem Sokha, 4 voted against and 2 abstained.

The lawmakers have also voted for the chairpersons of the legislative body's 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 last month.

The five commissions under the CPP's chairmanship are commission on economics, finance, banking and auditing; commission on interior, defense, and public functions; commission on foreign affairs and information; commission on legislation and justice; and commission on transport, telecom, industry, commerce, land management, and construction.

The CNRP-controlled five commissions include commission on human rights, complaints, and investigation; commission on investment, agriculture, rural development, environment, and water resources; commission on education, youth, sports, religions, culture and tourism; commission on health, social affairs, labor, vocational training and women's affairs; and commission on investigation and anti-corruption.

The reshuffle came after CPP's Prime Minister Hun Sen and CNRP' s president Sam Rainsy struck an agreement on July 22 that saw the CNRP end its nearly yearlong boycott of the National Assembly over last year's election that resulted in the CPP winning 68 seats against 55 seats for the CNRP.

Under the deal, the CNRP possesses the post of the first vice- president of the National Assembly and chairs five of the 10 commissions. In addition, it will control four of nine seats on the would-be National Election Committee.

Speaking to reporters after the session, newly-elected first vice-president of the National Assembly Kem Sokha vowed to promote the culture of dialogues between the opposition party and the ruling party for the sake of the country and people.

"I will propose the leaders of the opposition CNRP and the ruling CPP to meet regularly, possibly every three months, because we want to create the culture of dialogues to deal with all issues, " he said.

CNRP's president and lawmaker Sam Rainsy, who does not take any leadership role in the National Assembly, said, "The political crisis has come to an end, and the lawmakers from the two parties will work together to better serve the nation and people."

During the post-election crisis from July last year to July this year, the opposition had staged many street demonstrations-- some of them had turned violence, leaving people dead and injured.