CPP President Chea Sim was re-elected as Senate president on Monday by a vote of 60-to-1 at the first session of the institution’s second term in office.
Funcinpec put forward senators Prince Sisowath Chivan Monirak and Por Bun Sroeu for re-election as first deputy and second deputy president, respectively.
But Por Bun Sroeu withdrew his candidacy moments before the vote, paving the way for CPP Cabinet Chief Tep Ngorn to take the second deputy post, which had previously been a Funcinpec quota position, but which the CPP recently laid claim to.
“I would like to withdraw my candidacy. Let Samdech Chivan Monirak and Chea Sim discuss,” Por Bun Sroeu said. “I would like to support His Excellency Tep Ngorn.”
CPP officials said last week that the Senate second deputy position should now go to their party because it reflected their election successes. Prince Chivan Monirak was re-elected with 51 of the 61 votes; the 10 votes were against his appointment.
Tep Ngorn took 53 votes, with five voting against his appointment and three voters abstaining, to replace Por Bun Sroeu.
“With the experience of the first mandate, we hope to fulfill the will of the people, to enforce the rule of law and continue the development of the country with potential and new success,” Chea Sim said in an acceptance speech.
Opposition Senator Kong Korm said that although the Senate remains a largely ineffective body, he supported the three leaders.
“I think they deserve the positions,” Kong Korm said. “There is nothing strange. We follow the principles of democracy,” he added.
The senators were legally given their Senate seats Monday morning, while a formal swearing-in ceremony was scheduled for Monday evening at the Royal Palace.
King Norodom Sihamoni, who presided over the morning ceremony, said that the Senate session was an expression of the people’s will through the indirect elections held on Jan 22, when commune council members and lawmakers alone voted to choose the senators.
