Cambodia

National Assembly Senate

National Assembly

Political system
Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament
Bicameral
IPU membership
Yes
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Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections.

Background

Election date(s)
23 Jul 2023
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
No information available
Timing of election
Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections
31 Jul 2028
Number of seats at stake
125
Scope of elections
Full renewal

Results

About the election

Prime Minister Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party (CPP) won 120 of the 125 seats in the National Assembly. FUNCINPEC , a pro-government party led by Prince Norodom Chakravuth, took the remaining five seats. The 2023 elections were held without the participation of the main opposition party, the Candle Light Party (CLP, see note 1), which was barred from participating in the elections by the National Election Committee (NEC). Shortly after the elections, the UN human rights chief and several independent UN human rights experts said a range of serious human rights violations and severe restrictions on civic and political space affected the credibility of the 2023 election.

Many prominent opposition figures are in exile and in some cases have been tried in absentia, or are serving hefty prison terms in Cambodia, which has de facto banned them from political life.

On 21 August, the newly elected National Assembly elected Ms. Khuon Sudary (CPP) as its new President, who thereby became the first woman in Cambodia to assume the post. She succeeded Mr. Heng Samrin who had held the post since 2006. The National Assembly then elected Mr. Hun Manet (CPP) – the son of the long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen (see note 2) – as the new Prime Minister, marking the first transition of power since 1985. On 22 August, the new Prime Minister and his Cabinet took office under the auspice of King Norodom Sihamoni.

Note 1:

The CLP, led by Mr. Kong Monika, was initially formed as the Khmer Nation Party in 1995 by Mr. Sam Rainsy. The Khmer Nation Party was renamed as the Sam Rainsy Party then in 2012 joined with the Human Rights Party (led by Mr. Kem Sokha) to form the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP). The CNRP was dissolved by the Supreme Court in 2017 . Shortly before this ruling, the Sam Rainsy Party changed its name to the “Candle Light Party” in order to comply with the Law on the Amendment of the Law on Political Parties.

The CLP participated in the 2022 communal elections. On 16 May 2023, the National Election Committee refused to register the CLP for the parliamentary elections, claiming it had failed to submit its original registration documentation with the Ministry of the Interior.

Most of the 18 parties that contested in the 2023 elections were allies of the ruling CPP. Opposition leaders in exile called on supporters to boycott the election or cast invalid ballots. In June 2023, the Government enacted a series of amendments to the electoral law, including the one that penalizes citizens who do not vote. Only those who voted in the two preceding elections will be allowed to stand for the following election.

Note 2:

The Prime Minister stated that he would run for Senate President in the next elections to the Senate, scheduled in 2024.

Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition
96.0%

Parties or coalitions winning seats

Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political group Total
Cambodian People's Party (CPP) 120
United National Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful and Co-operative Cambodia (FUNCINPEC) 5
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
112
Number of women elected
13
Percentage of women elected
10.4%
Women Directly Elected
13
Sources

New legislature

Total number of men after the election
112
Total number of women after the election
13
Percentage of women after the election
10.4%
First-term parliamentarians
No information available
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians
No information available
Date of the first session
21 Aug 2023

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature
Khuon Sudary (Female)
Date of birth: 18 Nov 1952
Political party
Cambodian People's Party (CPP)
Date of election
22 Aug 2023

Historical data for IPU membership

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Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No