The CNRP’s 55 lawmakers-elect will be sworn into the National Assembly in a ceremony at the Royal Palace on Tuesday afternoon, opposition leader Sam Rainsy said on Monday, ending a boycott of parliament that began more than 10 months ago over claims last year’s election was rigged.
“Tomorrow 4 p.m. at the Royal Palace,” the opposition leader said by telephone of the swearing-in schedule.
Earlier Monday, National Assembly Secretary-General Leng Penglong wrote to Royal Palace Minister Kong Sam Ol requesting a date be set for the swearing in.
Spokespeople for the CPP could not be reached.
Once sworn in, the CNRP’s 55 lawmakers will be joined by their 68 colleagues from the CPP at a special session of the National Assembly to welcome the opposition representatives. The date for this special session has not yet been set.
The CPP’s 68 lawmakers-elect were sworn into office at a ceremony in September presided over by King Norodom Sihamoni and attended by the foreign diplomatic corps. The 68 lawmakers the next day voted the CPP government, headed by Prime Minister Hun Sen, into another five-year term.
The CNRP says that last year’s July 28 national election was rigged by the CPP in cooperation with the National Election Committee, which is dominated by the ruling party, and claims to have in fact won an absolute majority of 63 seats in parliament.
Under a deal negotiated by Mr. Hun Sen and Mr. Rainsy two weeks ago, the NEC will be reformed to allow each party to choose four members each and then together select the tie-breaking ninth and neutral member.
In exchange for the reforms, which the CNRP says will facilitate a fair election scheduled for 2018, Mr. Rainsy agreed to swear in his party’s 55 lawmakers and in effect legitimize Mr. Hun Sen’s election victory after a 12-month campaign for a re-election.
At least seven people were killed in the year following the July 28 vote, as Mr. Hun Sen’s government suppressed periodic uprisings of workers and opposition activists.
