Hun Sen: Opposition Party Wants Position As NA President

Cambodia (Kohker) - Before leaving the National Assembly meeting this morning, reelected Prime Minister Hun Sen told reporters that recent talks between the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) ended in a stalemate because the CNRP wanted the National Assembly’s presidential position.

"The CPP cannot allow a party that has minority seats in the National Assembly to take the position as president of the National Assembly,” he said after attending the National Assembly’s plenary session in which lawmakers gave a confidence vote on his new cabinet for the fifth term.

However, Hun Sen said that there is a possibility of resuming the talks with the CNRP, and that his CPP may grant certain concessions to the CNRP, such as giving them one position as vice-president of the National Assembly, 4 positions as chairs and 6 positions as vice-chairs of the Assembly’s commissions. But these positions need to go through a special vote in the National Assembly, he said, adding that before moving to these talks, all 55 elected lawmakers of the CNRP must swear in at the Royal Palace first.