Cambodian ruling party wins Senate election

The Cambodian People's Party ( CPP) swept the first Senate election held on Jan. 22, winning 45 seats of the 61-seat Senate, the official election results showed.

The results announced by the National Election Committee (NEC) on Sunday evening showed that the ruling CPP earned 7,854 votes, the royalist FUNCINPEC party received 2,320, the opposition Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) earned 1,165, and the less-known Khmer Democratic Party (KDP) got 13.

According to the results, the CPP won 45 Senate seats, the FUNCINPEC gained 10, the opposition SRP only two, while the less- known Khmer Democratic Party (KDP) did not get any seats, the NEC announced.

Only four political parties competed for 57 of the 61 Senate seats. The remaining four will be appointed by the National Assembly and King Norodom Sihamoni.

About 11,261 commune councilors and 123 parliamentarians were eligible to cast their votes at 33 polling stations in eight constituencies of 24 provinces and municipalities.

It is the first time for the Senate to elect its members. The first mandate Senate's 61 members were appointed by the king or by the political parties in proportion to their seats in the lower chamber National Assembly.

The CPP has 31 seats in the current Senate, the FUNCINPEC has 21 and the SRP seven, with the remaining two appointed by former King Norodom Sihanouk.

Source: Xinhua