Cambodian parliamentary election, 2008

A parliamentary election was held in Cambodia on 27 July 2008. [http://english.people.com.cn/200705/30/eng20070530_379342.html "Cambodian PM sets election date on July 27 next year"] , Xinhua ("People's Daily Online"), 30 May 2007.]

Prime Minister Hun Sen announced the planned date of the election on 30 May 2007, saying that the date of 27 July 2008 had been decided on because it was a holiday and because it fell exactly five years after the last election. While the ruling Cambodian People's Party was expected to retain its majority, Funcinpec was considered likely to fall behind the two major opposition parties, the Sam Rainsy Party and the Sangkum Jatiniyum Front Party.Fact|date=February 2008 The newly founded Human Rights Party was also expected to make an impact.

By the deadline of 12 May 2008, only twelve parties had registered for the election, only half of the 23 parties which contested the 2003 election and a third of the 39 in the 1998 election. [ [http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/6409005.html Fewer parties register for parliamentary election of Cambodia - People's Daily Online ] ] Ten of those parties fielded candidates in all of Cambodia's 24 provinces and municipalities, while the remaining two fielded candidates in only nine and seven provinces, respectively. [ [http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/6412185.html Election committee: Less parties but more representation in Cambodian election 2008 - People's Daily Online ] ] Ten parties were approved, one was asked to submit more documents and subsequently approved [ [http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/6419827.html 11 parties finally approved to join parliamentary election of Cambodia - People's Daily Online ] ] and one was denied registration. [ [http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/6414485.html Ten parties approved to join parliamentary election of Cambodia - People's Daily Online ] ]

In early July, the Khmer Anti-Poverty Party and the Society of Justice Party decided to form a political alliance, and the Khmer Republican Party also stated it was willing to make alliances. [ [http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/6443725.html 2 Cambodian parties make alliance before general election - People's Daily Online ] ]

The 2008 Cambodian-Thai stand-off over the Preah Vihear Temple are widely seen as a successful attempt of the ruling CPP to garner more support. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7507425.stm BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Political tensions driving temple row ] ] [ [http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gcZn9wPACFqgBhGeyHNhJg3Y8ozwD9262UBO1 The Associated Press: Cambodian ruling party heads to poll win ] ] Analysts expected the CPP to increase its majority; as the constitution was amended to remove the need for a two-thirds majority to govern, requiring the more common simple majority instead, it is likely the CPP will be able to govern without a coalition partner. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7527325.stm BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Cambodian rulers claim poll win ] ]

PM Sen claimed victory on 28 July 2008. [ [http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2008/07/200872825249835666.html Al Jazeera English - Asia-Pacific - Hun Sen claims Cambodia vote win ] ] Preliminary results from CPP sources indicate his CPP has won 58.3% of votes and 91 seats, SRP 21.9% and 26, the Human Rights Party 3, NRP 2 and FUNCINPEC 1. [ [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-07/28/content_8783768.htm CPP claims 88 to 91 seats at National Assembly of Cambodia_English_Xinhua ] ] [ [http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jzysnGiUwyJS_R0CX6aE4BAVwBHQ AFP: Hun Sen rivals reject his election win in Cambodia ] ] NGOs and other supervising bodies stated that the distribution was more likely 70 for CPP and 50 for SRP. [ [http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/6460237.html CPP takes lead in 4th general election of Cambodia - People's Daily Online ] ]

The EU observing mission stated that based on the provisional results, the lead of the CPP was so large that there would have to be very large-scale fraud in order to call the CPP's victory into question. [ [http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=43366 CAMBODIA: Polls Were Fair - EU Observers ] ] They still criticised the disenfranchisment of a large number of voters, but lauded the improvement over the 2003 elections; on the whole, however, the election fell short of international standards. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7531184.stm BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | EU criticises Cambodia election ] ]

The CPP announced it would retain its coalition with the severely diminished FUNCINPEC, but ordered its leaders Keo Puth Rasmey and his wife Princess Arun Rasmey to stand down and let army general Nek Bhun Chhay take over; he would be the first non-royal to lead FUNCINPEC. [ [http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/asiapacific/news/article_1420479.php/Cambodias_ruling_party_forms_coalition_but_says_royals_are_out Cambodia's ruling party forms coalition, but says royals are out ] ]

SRP, HRP and NRP threatened to boycott the first parliamentary session unless the irregularities were investigated; the PM replied that in that case, the opposition's seats would be redistributed between CPP and FUNCINPEC. [ [http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/6466712.html Cambodian opposition warned not to boycott NA - People's Daily Online ] ]

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