Cambodia: no nominee for NA First Vice President post
Kem Sokha, who has just been removed from the position of the First Vice President of the Cambodian National Assembly, said on October 30 that his Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) would not appoint a new nominee for the vacant position.
In a message on Facebook, Kem Sokha said he and the party’s president Sam Rainsy discussed and reached an agreement that the CNRP would not introduce a new nominee for the post of the First Vice President of the NA.
Kem Sokha said his dismissal violated the Constitution and political agreement reached between the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and the CNRP in July, 2014.
Sokha issued the statement after NA Chairman Heng Samrin requested Sam Rainsy to introduce a candidate for the position.
Earlier the same day, all 68 Members of Parliament (MPs) of the ruling CPP, including Prime Minister Hun Sen, voted to dismiss Kem Sokha while 55 MPs of the CNRP boycotted the meeting.
According to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, Sokha was sacked because he abused his position to slander and criticise the government and incited people to oppose the government and the CPP.
Kem Sokha became the First Vice President of the NA after the CPP and the CNRP reached a political agreement on July 22, 2014.
Under the agreement, the CNRP would end its 10-month NA boycott following a controversial election in 2013 in return for a bigger share of power in the NA and the election reform.
In the 2013 election, the CPP won 68 seats and the CNRP took 55 seats in Cambodia’s 123-seat National Assembly.
Kem Sokha said his dismissal violated the Constitution and political agreement reached between the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and the CNRP in July, 2014.
Sokha issued the statement after NA Chairman Heng Samrin requested Sam Rainsy to introduce a candidate for the position.
Earlier the same day, all 68 Members of Parliament (MPs) of the ruling CPP, including Prime Minister Hun Sen, voted to dismiss Kem Sokha while 55 MPs of the CNRP boycotted the meeting.
According to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, Sokha was sacked because he abused his position to slander and criticise the government and incited people to oppose the government and the CPP.
Kem Sokha became the First Vice President of the NA after the CPP and the CNRP reached a political agreement on July 22, 2014.
Under the agreement, the CNRP would end its 10-month NA boycott following a controversial election in 2013 in return for a bigger share of power in the NA and the election reform.
In the 2013 election, the CPP won 68 seats and the CNRP took 55 seats in Cambodia’s 123-seat National Assembly.