Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen this morning said that the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Justice are working on an amendment to the constitution to tighten the election rights by strengthening and enhancing the responsibility of political leaders at both the national and sub-national levels.
While visiting nearly 20,000 workers and employees in Khan Pursenchey this morning, Samdech Techo Hun Sen laid stress on the need to reform the right to stand for election by following Thailand’s practice, after the successive calls by the opposition party to people not to go to the polls on July 23, 2023 or to destroy the ballot papers.
“If they do not go to vote on July 23, 2023, they will not be able to stand for election, neither for the commune/Sangkat council election in 2027, the provincial/capital, municipal, district/Khan council election in 2024 nor the senate election in 2024 and the parliamentary elections in 2028,” he explained.
The constitution amendment must be done before the election campaign scheduled for early July, he added.
Last night, through his official Telegram channel, the Premier asked Samdech Krolahom Sar Kheng, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and H.E. Koeut Rith, Minister of Justice for an immediate amendment to the constitution.
“The Royal Government continues to respect the rights of citizens whether or not to participate in the election, i.e. they can or cannot go to the polls, that is their right to choose, but it is necessary for the Royal Government to strengthen and enhance the responsibility of leaders at both the national and sub-national levels,” he said.
“Those who wish to stand for election must be responsible as good citizens in a democratic society, starting from the consistent exercise of the right to vote. In this sense, those who do not go to the polls without a valid legal reason will be considered to have lost the right to stand for election, but they still have the right to vote as citizens without any effect,” affirmed Samdech Techo Prime Minister.
