2003 Cambodian general election
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All 123 seats in the National Assembly 62 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Turnout | 83.22% ( 10.52pp) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
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This article is part of a series on the |
Politics of Cambodia |
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General elections were held in
Background
Cambodia became a democracy in the early 1990s with the
In local elections in 2002 the Cambodian People's Party performed strongly leading in 1,597 of the 1,621 communes of Cambodia.[4] Meanwhile, FUNCINPEC suffered a setback dropping to only 22% of the vote.[4]
Campaign
The run-up to the election saw some violence including the killing of a judge and a royalist politician,[5] however it was much reduced from previous elections.[6] During the campaign the United States Secretary of State Colin Powell visited Cambodia, met all three main party leaders and called on all parties to have fair coverage in the media.[1] The opposition were able to get some time on television during the campaign,[4] but there were many reports in rural areas of voters being intimidated by the Cambodian People's Party.[7] In total 22 parties contested the election but only three were seen as real contenders in the election.[8]
The Cambodian People's Party had control of much of the
The two main opposition parties criticised the government of Hun Sen for its corruption and pledged to improve health and education in Cambodia.
Results
Voter turnout in the election was high with over 80% casting ballots.[10] The results saw the Cambodian People's Party win a clear majority of seats but fell short of the two-thirds majority required in order to elect a Prime Minister on their own.[11] FUNCINPEC lost ground dropping from the 31% they had won in 1998 to only just over 20% this time, while the Sam Rainsy Party rose to 22% from 14% in 1998.[12]
Sam Rainsy Party 1,130,423 | 21.87 | 24 | +9 | | |||||
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Khmer Democratic Party | 95,927 | 1.86 | 0 | 0 | |||||
The Rice Party | 76,086 | 1.47 | 0 | New | |||||
Indra Buddra Party | 62,338 | 1.21 | 0 | New | |||||
Khmer Soul Party | 56,010 | 1.08 | 0 | New | |||||
Cambodian Development Party | 36,838 | 0.71 | 0 | New | |||||
Khmer Angkor Party | 26,385 | 0.51 | 0 | 0 | |||||
Cambodian Women's Party | 23,538 | 0.46 | 0 | New | |||||
Khmer Front Party | 20,272 | 0.39 | 0 | New | |||||
Khmer Unity Party | 18,309 | 0.35 | 0 | 0 | |||||
Hang Dara Democratic Movement Party | 15,671 | 0.30 | 0 | New | |||||
Khmer Spiritual Aspiration Party | 14,342 | 0.28 | 0 | New | |||||
Kon Khmer Party | 14,018 | 0.27 | 0 | New | |||||
Union of National Solidarity Party | 11,676 | 0.23 | 0 | New | |||||
Khmer Help Khmer | 9,482 | 0.18 | 0 | New | |||||
Farmer's Party | 9,449 | 0.18 | 0 | New | |||||
Molinaka and the Khmer Freedom Fighters Party | 6,808 | 0.13 | 0 | 0 | |||||
Cambodian Free Independent Democratic Party | 6,806 | 0.13 | 0 | New | |||||
Khmer Citizens' Party | 6,526 | 0.13 | 0 | 0 | |||||
National Khmer Party | 4,232 | 0.08 | 0 | New | |||||
Liberal Democratic Party | 4,129 | 0.08 | 0 | 0 | |||||
Total | 5,168,837 | 100.00 | 123 | +1 | |||||
Valid votes | 5,168,837 | 97.94 | |||||||
Invalid/blank votes | 108,657 | 2.06 | |||||||
Total votes | 5,277,494 | 100.00 | |||||||
Registered voters/turnout | 6,341,834 | 83.22 | |||||||
Source: IFES, EU |
Aftermath
Following the election, FUNCINPEC and the Sam Rainsy Party refused to attend parliament and formed an "Alliance of Democrats" in order to block Hun Sen from being elected Prime Minister again.[13] They rejected the official results and said that they had been manipulated by the Cambodian People's Party.[11] After initially boycotting parliament the two parties were persuaded by the King to attend the swearing in at the end of September, but remained firm in rejecting joining a government led by Hun Sen.[14] However, despite no government being formed, a caretaker administration run by Hun Sen and the Cambodian People's Party was able to continue.[14]
A provisional agreement was said to have been reached in November on a three party government led by Hun Sen but the opposition later denied this.
See also
Literature
- Sorpong Peou (2006), "Consolidation or Crisis of Democracy?: Cambodia's Parliamentary Elections in 2003 and Beyond", Between Consolidation and Crisis: Elections and Democracy in Five Nations in Southeast Asia, Berlin: Lit, pp. 41–83
References
- ^ a b c d Kazmin, Amy (2003-06-20). "Powell call over Cambodian poll media US OFFICIAL'S VISIT:". Financial Times. p. 10.
- ^ a b c d e "Asia: Limousines and poverty; Cambodia". The Economist. 2003-06-07. p. 62.
- ^ Spillius, Alex (2003-07-28). "Hun Sen on his way to poll win in Cambodia". The Daily Telegraph. p. 12.
- ^ a b c d "Asia: Stronger and stronger; Cambodia's election". The Economist. 2003-07-26. p. 59.
- ^ Madra, Ek (2003-04-24). "Senior Cambodian judge assassinated". The Independent. p. 16.
- ^ Aglionby, John (2003-07-26). "Cambodia edges towards change". The Guardian. p. 17.
- ^ Kazmin, Amy (2003-07-26). "Dark threats likely to keep Cambodia's ruling party in power". Financial Times. p. 5.
- ^ a b c d "Cambodia Election Guide". BBC Online. 2003-07-25. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
- ^ Kazmin, Amy (2003-07-22). "Cambodia's disenchanted young grow restless for a brighter future: Many are fervently hoping for a new government when this Sunday the country goes to its first poll since 1998, Amy Kazmin reports". Financial Times. p. 9.
- ^ Aglionby, John (2003-07-28). "80% turnout for Cambodian vote". The Guardian. p. 10.
- ^ a b Kazmin, Amy (2003-07-30). "Opposition rejects Hun Sen victory claim CAMBODIAN ELECTIONS:". Financial Times. p. 9.
- ^ Kazmin, Amy (2003-07-31). "Cambodian prime minister rejects calls to step down". Financial Times. p. 9.
- ^ a b c "Asia: Deadlock; Cambodia;". The Economist. 2004-02-21. p. 66.
- ^ a b Kazmin, Amy (2003-09-29). "Cambodian parties boycott parliament over resignation call". Financial Times. p. 2.
- ^ a b "Cambodian government faces uphill task". BBC Online. 2004-07-15. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
- ^ Kazmin, Amy (2004-06-28). "Coalition deal in Cambodia ends 11-month post-election standoff". Financial Times. p. 2.
- ^ "Cambodian parliament ends deadlock". BBC Online. 2004-07-15. Retrieved 2009-05-26.