Prime Minister Hun Manet has set May 26 as the date for the 4th municipal, provincial and district council elections. These non-universal elections will see voters from commune councils, who were directly elected by their constituents in 2022.
Hang Puthea, a spokesman for the National Election Committee (NEC), told The Post that they have just received the announcement from the Ministry of Interior and will now draft procedures and share them with all stakeholders.
He added that after agreeing on the election rules and procedures, the NEC will initiate the process of verifying the names of the electorate, who are already enrolled to vote.
“The next step is the registration of political parties. Currently, we are unaware of which parties wish to contest. Even parties without a seat in the [2022’s] commune council elections can participate if they have the necessary documentation," Puthea continued.
He mentioned that the subsequent phase will be the election campaign, noting that since commune councils are elected by the people, they operate according to the public's wishes.
"If the people understand and support a party, it's based on their preference. At the moment, only the election date is known, not the entire calendar of related events," he noted.
Yang Peou, secretary-general of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, highlighted the significance of the forthcoming elections.
"The elections are crucial for advancing local democracy in the country. It represents a pivotal sub-national political executive function within our democratic structures. As such, it plays a vital role in ensuring checks and balances," he said.
