A much-criticized chapter of the draft commune administration law was approved by National Assembly members Wednesday, opening the way, opponents claim, for dominant political parties to have an unfair advantage in the commune elections anticipated for early 2002.
Lawmakers voted in favor of requiring commune residents to vote for political parties rather than individual candidates to fill commune councils. Under the proportional system of representation, the winning party would choose commune leadership from its own roster.
The system, which was used in Cambodia’s previous two national elections, has come under near-constant fire from election monitors and opposition lawmakers who claim individual political voices would be stifled by dominate party ideology.
“The individual system should be used because it will make voters know more clearly about their representatives as commune chief,” said Kek Galabru, who heads one of Cambodia’s three main election monitoring groups.
Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Yim Sovann also expressed fears Wednesday that commune council members elected under the proportional system are likely to work toward party rather than commune interests.
“When one is appointed by a party to join the council they have to satisfy their party more than the citizens they are representing,” he told Assembly members before Wednesday’s vote.
But Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng argued that the proportional system allows even the smallest political parties the chance to participate in the elections—a view also endorsed by some in the international community.
Some lawmakers supporting the proportional system have said that allowing potentially dozens of politically independent candidates to run for commune council seats could result in confusion at the ballot box and administrative stalemate once the councils are installed.
The Assembly was to continue debate today on the law, which members hope would be passed in full by their recess next week. At the invitation of Funcinpec legislator Sok San, 69 Funcinpec commune council candidates from Kompong Chhang arrived Wednesday to observe Assembly debates for three days.
“It’s just great that I could see this with my eyes,” 58-year-old Van Vuon said.
