Cambodia heads to general elections in July

By Necva Tastan

ISTANBUL (AA) - Voting for general elections in Cambodia will begin on July 23 to elect members of the National Assembly, marking an important prelude to choosing the composition of the city and district councils.

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen, 70, a former Khmer Rouge battalion deputy commander, has ruled Cambodia for 38 years as the country’s long-serving leader since 1985.

Sen-led Cambodian People's Party (CPP) currently holds all seats in parliament.

Around 9.7 million Cambodians are set to vote in the July 23 elections, choosing from 18 registered political parties for the 125 National Assembly seats.

Cambodia, which is a constitutional monarchy, has a bicameral parliamentary structure and holds general elections every five years.

In the 2023 Cambodia elections, voting is open to all Cambodian citizens who are 18 years or older, and it is not compulsory.

The National Election Committee (NEC) has registered about 9.7 million voters, which corresponds to around 89% of Cambodia's total population aged 18 and above, for the upcoming elections.

The election commission has approved the participation of 18 political parties in the political contest, including the ruling Cambodian People’s Party.

Cambodia's election commission had officially blocked the Candlelight Party, the main opposition group in the country, from taking part in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Sen’s son Hun Manet, a 37-year-old, is the likeliest candidate to stand for the prime minister's slot for the 2028 elections.

For the past four decades, the CPP has held power in Cambodia as the ruling political party.​​​​​​​