Cambodian PM calls on voting for ruling party, pledging to maintain peace, development

Cambodian PM calls on voting for ruling party, pledging to maintain peace, development

Xinhua | 25 May 2017

PHNOM PENH, May 25 (Xinhua) -- As the nation gears up for the commune elections on June 4, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Thursday renewed his calls for the compatriots to vote for the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) in order to continue maintaining peace, stability and development.

"I'd like to appeal to the people to join the CPP to continue maintaining peace. No peace, no development," he said during a gathering with the representatives of the Christian community in the country.

He said that the CPP has brought peace, stability, socio-economic development and poverty reduction to Cambodia.

Twelve political parties will contest in the upcoming commune elections, with the ruling CPP and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) being the major contestants in the elections, according to the National Election Committee (NEC).

The commune elections are to elect commune chiefs and councilors for the kingdom's 1,646 communes, the NEC said, adding that around 7.87 million eligible voters are expected to cast their ballots.

Held once every five years, the commune elections are seen as a bellwether of the party's support ahead of the general elections in 2018.

In the last commune elections in June 2012, the ruling CPP gained 61.9 percent of the votes, compared to about 30.6 percent for the opposition.