Advisers to Chea Sim insisted Thursday that a November coalition agreement, not the CPP president’s wish for a prestigious post, requires creation of the Senate.
“To be the president of the Senate is a part of the agreement which needs to be implemented,” said Chea Sim’s Cabinet chief, Oum Sarith. “It is not at all because Samdech Chea Sim intends to be the president of the Senate.”
Chea Sim is slated to preside over the proposed body, the creation of which pro-democracy activists have said is unconstitutional and an excuse to give a face-saving job to the former National Assembly president.
Also, King Norodom Sihanouk in a Wednesday fax asked Prime Minister Hun Sen, acting Head of State Prince Norodom Ranariddh and acting Assembly President Heng Samrin to “seriously consider” the opposition’s call for a referendum on the Senate.
