The National Assembly Tuesday passed a seat allocation provision during debate on the draft commune election law, which critics say unfairly favors dominant political parties.
Employing a complicated mathematical formula, the draft law tries to determine the total number of commune council seats each party on the ballot is entitled to hold.
But opposition lawmakers complained the formula gives away fractional votes, an inevitable result of the legislative number crunching, to the party with the most total votes, regardless for whom votes were cast. “This formula is not helpful to the smaller parties,” said Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Kim Sou Phirith.
The formula approved Tuesday first came under attack during the 1998 national elections, when critics said it allowed the CPP to receive more parliamentary seats than it was entitled to receive.
Despite opposition protests, however, Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng, called the formula was “quite appropriate” and it was overwhelmingly approved.
Sam Rainsy Party lawmakers also renewed their attack on the proportional system, saying it would exclude a significant number of independent candidates.
“If the Assembly accepts the party-list system, it means we are rejecting the political rights of a large number of independent people,” Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Yim Sokha said.
A provision establishing the proportional system was approved last week when lawmakers passed the commune administration law.
Critics fear the proportional system, which requires candidates to be members of parties to run for commune leadership, will unfairly favor Cambodia’s three main political organizations.
But the government—and some donors—say the system encourages minor parties to field candidates.
This system has long been the target of election monitors, although opposition has waned in recent days and it was approved with relatively little debate.
The Assembly will continue debating the law today.
