06 June, 2017
The opposition did much better than expected in the last general election in 2013, leaving the ruling party with only a small majority in parliament.
Phnom Penh: Cambodia's embattled opposition made significant gains in this weekend's local elections, early results showed, a vote closely watched for signs of vulnerability in one of the world's longest serving leaders.
Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen expects his party to win next year's general election, despite ceding ground to the opposition in Sunday's commune ballot.
The election for more than 1,600 communes would not mean a major shift in power, but could be a springboard for next year's general election, in which Hun Sen aims to extend more than three decades in power in the Southeast Asian country.
Official results will be announced June 25.
Independent political analyst Meas Ny said the CNRP has won more commune seats than before, but could not say immediately if this would lead to improvements in local services.
Chan Samnang, a female opposition candidate standing in Russey Keo commune in the capital, said she had won by some 3,400 votes over her CPP rival.
"Whoever comes from whatever political party works under the Ministry of Interior", he said.
Commenting on the general situation during the elections, he said, "The elections had been conducted smoothly without any interference".
Held once every five years, the commune elections are seen as a bellwether of the parties's support ahead of the general elections in July 2018.
"The CNRP was successful and took a big stride in the commune elections", he said in a statement.
Hun Sen had warned opposition parties against challenging the outcome of Sunday's vote, saying the country's courts could dissolve the parties for doing so.
US -based political analyst Sophal Ear told RFA that the CNRP's performance in the commune elections amounted to a win "against fear, intimidation, and electoral abuse", adding that the CPP had "barely won the majority".
"It's good to retire when you're on top instead of when you are forced to quit".
Sam Kuntheamy, executive director of the Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia, said provincial governors could not put pressure on new CNRP commune chiefs because they worked awithin a system, having to go through district councillors, provincial councillors and then to the Ministry of Interior.
"[This election] shows that despite incredible arm-twisting, the people are not afraid-the people want change". Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
