On eve of elections, Cambodia passes law to penalize non-voters

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) – On the eve of next month’s general election, Cambodia's lower house of parliament on Friday passed a law to penalize people who skip voting in elections by barring them from voting or running for office in future polls.

In addition, people who fail to vote in two consecutive elections will no longer be able to cast votes or run for seats in parliament or local government posts, the daily Khmer Times reported.

Prime Minister Hun Sen proposed the draft legislation last week, and it was approved by all sitting 111 in the 125-member National Assembly, exactly one month before the country's general elections scheduled for July 23.

“The draft states that for being eligible to stand as candidates in the commune election, the election for municipal/provincial, city and district council seats and senate election, they must have voted in the previous national election,” the daily said, citing an article of the draft bill, which was disclosed in the morning and approved in the evening.

Those who failed to fulfill their democratic responsibilities must provide justified reasons to take part in the country’s democratic process.

Article 23 also states that Cambodian citizens who have the right and wish to stand as candidates for the National Assembly election must meet the following conditions: be Khmer citizen by birth, 25 years of age or older as of election day, have the right to vote and have a name on the voter list, have a residence in Cambodia and be nominated by a registered political party.

According to the media outlet, Hun Sen made the proposal after stating earlier in June that opposition leaders living in exile abroad launched a "WIFI" campaign, urging their members and supporters in Cambodia not to vote.

“This WIFI campaign urges people not to go to vote or invalidate the ballots by drawing an ‘X’ on them,” the prime minister said, adding that “In response, I will put an end to your political career. Don’t blame me; this is your fault.”

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.

Last month, the National Election Committee officially blocked the Candlelight Party, the main opposition group in the country from taking part in the upcoming parliamentary elections for “non-compliance with the electoral laws, regulations and notifications of the Committee.”