The Cambodian People’s Party Was More Victorious Beyond Expectations in the Sub-National Level Council Elections – Tuesday, 19.5.2009

Posted on 20 May 2009
The Mirror, Vol. 13, No. 613
http://cambodiamirror.wordpress.com/

“Phnom Penh: Early results of the district/province/city council elections of 17 May 2009 show that the Cambodian People’s Party received results beyond their expectations.

“The National Election Committee – NEC – announced that the atmosphere of the elections was smooth, and nothing disturbed or affected the district/province/city council elections. There are a small number of complaints from political parties which are being dealt with by the NEC according to the procedures.

“The secretary-general of the NEC, Mr. Tep Nitha, said during a press conference in the evening of 17 May 2009 that many polling stations countrywide closed at 9:30 a.m. and only few poling stations were open until 3:00 p.m. which includes a polling station in Daun Penh district in Phnom Penh, because a councilor from the Cambodian People’s Party walked back and forth in front of the station and at 3:00 p.m. the committee decided to close that station in order to sum up the results.

“According to the NEC, in the evening of 17 May 2009 there were 13 complaints, and on 18 May 2009 the NEC announced that there were 8 other complaints which mostly relate to buying of votes – these cases are being dealt with by the NEC.

“The president of the NEC, Mr. Im Suosdey, announced on 18 May 2009 that the NEC will try to finish dealing with all complaints before the deadline, and the official results will be announced by the NEC on 29 May 2009 at the latest. But if complaints will have been solved earlier, the NEC will announce the results ahead of the deadline.

“Based on early results from the province/city council elections announced by the NEC, the Cambodian People’s Party received 8,545 votes – 75.57%, the Sam Rainsy Party received 2,317 votes – 20.49%, Funcinpec received 236 votes – 2.9%, and the Norodom Ranariddh Party received 209 votes – 1.85%.

“As for the district council election results, the Cambodian People’s Party received 8,470 votes – 74.73%, the Sam Rainsy Party 2,332 votes – 20.58%, Funcinpec 268 votes – 2.36%, and the Norodom Ranariddh Party 264 votes – 2.33%.

“The results show that the number of votes, that the Cambodian People’s Party got from the district/province/city council elections, is higher than the number of commune councilors of the Cambodian People’s Party all over the country. That means councilors from other parties voted for the Cambodian People’s Party, assuming the defeat of their own parties.

“According to some sources of information, in Phnom Penh alone, not less than 30 councilors from the Sam Rainsy Party voted for the Cambodian People’s Party. This made the Cambodian People’s Party gain more results than expected.”

Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.8, #1947, 19.5.2009
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Tuesday, 19 May 2009