Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, this afternoon said the absence of one or two political parties does not mean that the democracy in Cambodia is destroyed.

Addressing to a get-together with the Cambodian para athletes at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh ahead of the 12th ASEAN Para Games, Samdech Techo Hun Sen said a total of 18 political parties will attend the national election on July 23, 2023 in a free and fair manner.

The Premier’s reaction was made after the Constitutional Council of Cambodia decided yesterday to uphold the decision of the National Election Committee (NEC) not to register the Candlelight Party and Khmer United Great Nation Party for non-compliance with the electoral laws, regulations and notifications of the NEC.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen underlined that the rejection did not violate the Paris Peace Agreement in 1991 and the Constitution of Cambodia, explaining that the two documents did not mention about the opposition party, but only about multi-party liberal democracy.

A total of 20 political parties have registered their parties and candidates with NEC to contest for the upcoming National Election, but only 18 have been approved.

Those registered political parties are the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, Cambodian Youth Party, Khmer United National Party, Dharmacracy Party, Democracy Power Party, Cambodian Nationality Party, Khmer United Party, Khmer Conservative Party, FUNCINPEC Party, Beehive Social Democratic Party, People Purpose Party, Ekpheap Cheat Khmer Party, Women’s Party for Women, Khmer Anti-Poverty Party, Khmer Economic Development Party, Cambodia Indigenous People’s Democracy Party, Grassroots Democratic Party, and Khmer Farmers Party.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP)