Cambodian political parties began a three-week election campaign period on Saturday that saw Prime Minister Hun Sen make pledges to conduct reforms. The campaigning got underway in the absence of the country’s main opposition party, which was banned by the Supreme Court late last year and will not be able to field any candidates to contest seats in the July 29 election. Speaking to thousands of supporters in Phnom Penh, Hun Sen, the leader of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, vowed to end political divides in the country and use development to bring Cambodians out of poverty.
“We must unite together to firmly protect peace, security, stability and public order, and vow to build our country into a more prosperous country, toward a vision that the country will have a high income by 2030,” he said, adding that he hoped Cambodia could become “the country with the highest income” by 2050.
He announced plans to reform the economy, democratic system, and law enforcement, as well as tax relief for small-scale farmers, subsidies for pregnant women on low incomes, and increased wages for private sector workers and civil servants.
Full Article: Parties Begin Election Campaigning Without Main Opposition.
