NA Elects Own Leadership and Cabinet for New Term

 Cambodia (Kohker) – The new National Assembly for the fifth legislature, which consisted of only 68 lawmakers from the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), held its first plenary session this morning for a package vote to elect its leadership and give a vote of confidence on the new cabinet for the fifth mandate.

The Assembly session unanimously reelected Samdech Heng Samrin as President of the National Assembly, Mr. Nguon Ngel and Ms. Khuon Sodary as First and Second Vice Presidents respectively. Chairs and vice-chairs of the Assembly’s 9 commissions were also elected.

After being reelected as Prime Minister of Cambodia for another five-year term, Samdech Hun Sen made a speech in which he pledged to do his best to bring more development and prosperity to Cambodia. He continued that the new National Assembly and Royal Government were formed in accordance with the country’s Constitution.

“We are all here not the hostages of any group,” Samdech Hun Sen said; “we fulfill our duties in accordance with the Constitution.”

The Cambodian premier also rejected the accusation that the first National Assembly session opened yesterday was a single-party parliament.

“Actually the National Assembly’s doors were not locked, but the opposition lawmakers boycotted the session themselves,” he said.

According to the official election results, the ruling CPP won 68 out of the 123 parliamentary seats and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) got the remaining 55. But the CNRP rejected the election results and boycotted the National Assembly’s first session, which was officially opened on Monday under the chairmanship of His Majesty Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia.