Election campaigning will kick off on Saturday for the two weeks ahead of the June 5 vote, during which parties will be allowed two rallies per contesting commune as long as they stay within boundaries and give three days’ notice.
National Election Committee spokesperson Hang Puthea said the requirement for notice was to prevent too many overlaps between parties: 17 parties in total are contesting the June commune election.
Some parties could be asked to adjust the time and place of planned rallies and marches if there are overlaps, he said.
The National Election Committee issued its campaigning guidelines late last week, permitting two rallies per commune for each party with a candidate there. Marches must stay within the boundaries of the commune, it said, also noting the three days of required notice. The campaigning period ends June 3, two days ahead of the vote.
Yem Ponhearith, president of Kampucheaniyum, said his party had candidates in 38 communes in 10 provinces, and would rally according to the NEC’s rules.
“Our Kampucheaniyum sees that this isn’t an obstacle,” Ponhearith said.
Cambodian National Love Party vice president Khey Sinoeun said the guidelines were no problem, but the party was concerned whether local authorities would allow it to follow them.
“From past experience, at most election rallies local authorities don’t respect the election’s laws and procedures,” he said.
Some opposition parties — notably Candlelight, which is fielding the most candidates outside the ruling CPP — have already alleged threats and intimidation against activists in the run-up to the commune election.
The June 5 vote will select local councils for the country’s 1,652 communes. Almost all seats — 95.5% — are currently held by the ruling CPP following the dissolution of the main opposition CNRP following the previous 2017 commune election.