Cambodia’s authoritarian leader has warned voters who destroyed their ballots to turn themselves in or face legal consequences, as polls closed following a one-sided election in which he ran virtually uncontested.
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The party of Hun Sen, 70, who has governed for almost four decades, claimed victory on Sunday evening. There had been little doubt over the outcome of the vote, given that the only opposition party big enough to pose a threat, the Candlelight party, was barred from running after it was accused of not submitting the correct paperwork.
Hun Sen waves during a campaign rally
A crackdown on opposition voices ahead of the vote, which also included legal challenges to prevent voter boycotts, left spoiled ballots as one of the only remaining outlets for people to protest against the regime.
In full: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/23/cambodia-election-results-hun-sen-spoiled-ballots
