According to the Phnom Penh City Hall, the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) held a rally at the Koh Pich (diamond) island exhibition centre in the capital of Phnom Penh with the participation of more than 60,000 party members and supporters.
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Cambodia’s political parties on July 7 kicked off a three-week campaign for the country’s general election slated for July 29. |
Other parties such as the League for Democracy Party held a rally with about 15,000 activists, while the Funcinpec Party organised a gathering with about 2,000 supporters.
Speaking at a meeting to launch the campaign, CPP President cum Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen called on party members and supporters to vote for the CPP, which won four consecutive elections from 1998.
He announced the CPP's political agenda for building and defending the nation, vowing to protect the monarchy, and promoting the multi-party liberal democracy and respect for human rights, protecting the law and social equality.
Meanwhile , others parties committed to promoting socio-economic development, developing human resources and creating jobs, pushing legal reform and public administration, and anti-corruption.
The National Election Committee (NEC) said 20 political parties will contest in the forthcoming election, which will see some 8.3 million people cast their ballots.
In the last election on July 28, 2013, eight political parties joined the race. The CPP won 68 seats against 55 seats for the now-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) in the then 123-seat National Assembly.
The CNRP was dissolved by the Supreme Court in November last year after its leader Kem Sokha was arrested and charged with "treason" for conspiring with a foreign power in an attempt to overthrow the government.
The election campaign will last until July 27, as the election for the 125-seat National Assembly will be held on July 29.
Source: VNA