Funcinpec will retain a tenuous hold on some political power in Phnom Penh despite devastating losses in the commune council elections, thanks to one aspect of the majority-rule voting system that works in the party’s favor.
In 22 of Phnom Penh’s 76 communes, voters elected a single Funcinpec member to councils that are otherwise evenly divided between the ruling CPP and opposition Sam Rainsy Party, making it possible that the Funcinpec member will hold the tie-breaking vote on issues to come before the council.
The likely differences between Sam Rainsy Party and CPP council members could thrust Funcinpec members into a deciding role on many sensitive issues, including the commune development plans and budget, local tax rates, non-local taxes and service rates, and passing bylaws.
“In some communes, although we only got one seat, it is the kingmaker,” said Funcinpec member Keo Remy. “We can take our one voice to add to those of either party that we decide are working for the best interests of the commune and the people.” In five more communes, the CPP or Sam Rainsy Party hold only a one-voter margin over the other party, and there are two Funcinpec members on those councils. If the two Funcinpec members vote together, they could wield tie-breaking power.
“The CPP and SRP alike do not have absolute majority,” said Keo Remy. “They need us to add with them to make any valid decision.”
Funcinpec’s tie-breaking role will be jeopardized if other council members do not attend meetings. Article 22 of the commune administration law only requires that a majority of members attend meetings for the council to vote on official business.
A CPP or Sam Rainsy Party council member’s decision to skip a meeting in some communes would hand control of the council, at least for that session, to the Sam Rainsy Party. This same problem could also open opportunities for Funcinpec, if a council that is not normally evenly divided between CPP and Sam Rainsy becomes so with the absence of one member.
In a democracy, swing vote holders and minority third parties often enjoy the role of political spoilers. The difference in Cambodia is that the third-party council members will be novice politicians who will be learning their new role as locally-elected leaders. The Funcinpec members alsobelong to a national coalition government with the CPP, and any local votes that support the Sam Rainsy Party could be viewed as a break from the coalition.
Standing at the intersection of these conflicting loyalties will be council members like Soun Savath, 42, a former member of the Royal Cambodian Air Force and a Funcinpec party member who was elected to the Tonle Bassac commune counci in Chamkar Mon district. The CPP and Sam Rainsy Party each have five members on the council compared to one seat for Funcinpec, which received just 13.9 percent of the commune’s 10,636 votes.
“If it’s good for the people, then I do it for them,” said Soun Savath. “Before I say yes or no I will think about the problem. If I think it’s good for the people I will say yes.”
Ma Sopheap, the CPP commune chief in Tonle Bassac, predicted there will be harmonious relations among the board members as they go about rebuilding the area. “We will work closely with the municipal governor on our wishes to build the roads in our commune,” said Ma Sopheap.
But the effort will require gutsy decisions on spending a limited budget by people not accustomed to the sometimes personal and petty nature of local politics.
Local issues mean more to Cambodians than national ones, according to an Asia Foundation survey completed last year, and locally elected politicians will likely find themselves closely watched by their neighbors and co-workers as they go about their political business.
“We are not working against each other,” said Hor Van, the Sam Rainsy first deputy commune chief in Tonle Bassac, “but if CPP council members’ proposals are not in the interest of the villagers, we need to vote against or reject their proposal.”
(Additional reporting by Saing Soenthrith)
