Cambodian parties reach agreement to end political deadlock

The ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) have reached an agreement to end the political deadlock lingering in almost a year after the general election in last July.
The ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and the opposition CambodiaNational Rescue Party (CNRP) have reached an agreement to end thepolitical deadlock lingering in almost a year after the general electionin last July.

After a five-hour talks on July 22,Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who headed the CPP negotiation group,and CNRP President Sam Rainsy told the media that the two sides reached asolution to the political crisis.

Sam Rainsyaffirmed that CNRP parliamentarians will join the National Assembly(NA)’s meetings as soon as possible after swearing in, putting an end toa year-long boycott of the fifth NA.

At a pressconference after the talks, CPP representative Prum Sokha and CNRPspokesperson Yim Sovan said the agreement consists of seven majorpoints, stressing consensus on addressing the political row by joiningthe NA together towards the settlement of national issues based onprinciples of democracy and law.

Along with addingregulations on the National Election Committee (NEC) to theconstitution, the two sides agreed on NEC personnel. The committee willhave nine members, including four CPP and four CNRP representatives aswell as one from a non-governmental organisation, he said.

They also concurred to share power in the NA. Accordingly, the rulingCPP holds the positions of the president and 2nd vice president of thelegislative body, while the CNRP holds the position of the first vicepresident and chairmen of five committees in the NA.

In a move to facilitate the implementation of the agreement, CPP andCNRP agreed to propose the court free eight CNRP members who werearrested on charge of holding a violent protest on July 15.

Political dispute between the two parties has simmered since theresults of the parliamentary election in July last year showed that theCPP won 68 seats against 55 seats for the CNRP.-VNA

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