The ruling party claims the “tidal wave” in the elections without opposition

“We’re winning with a tidal wave.” the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) Prime Minister Hun Sen declared victory in the legislative elections on Sunday, July 23. At the end of this election, without suspense, Hun Sen, 70, who has ruled Cambodia with an iron fist for 38 years, must hand over power to his eldest son, H.R.A. Manet, 45 years old.

More than 9.7 million people were called to the polls in this seventh national election since the Paris Peace Accords in 1991, which marked the end of the Khmer Rouge era. Voters turned out in droves with a turnout of at least 84%, according to unfinished numbers. The huge turnout showed that support for the opposition had collapsed, and the prime minister responded in Telegram messages. “The Cambodian people will not let deceitful groups destroy the country,” he said. confirmed.

“A significant lack of transparency and fairness”

In the absence of any credible opposition following the exclusion of the main anti-Hun Sen movement, the CPP could, as in 2018, win all 125 seats in Parliament. Then this success occurred after the dissolution of the court of the main opposition party. This time it was the Shamaa party, the only reliable competitor to the prime minister, who was expelled due to not being properly registered with the Elections Commission, according to the latter.

The poll drew criticism from a coalition of 17 international NGOs, who on Saturday expressed concern about A “A significant lack of transparency and fairness”. impose his son “A stab in the back of the Cambodian people”, believes Phil Robertson, of the NGO Human Rights Watch. his pranks “Making Cambodia look like North Korea instead of a real democracy,” notice.

To his critics, Hun Sen has backed away from basic freedoms and used the judicial system to muzzle his opponents, who have been thrown into jail by the dozens since he came to power.