Political party representatives and election observers called on the National Election Committee (NEC) to strengthen its independence so that the upcoming elections (2027-2028) are free and fair.
Civil society organization, Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (Comfrel), held a workshop to gather the opinion of over 1000 participants on February 14, 2025.
Back in 2023, the committee uncovered irregularities in the electoral process which remain unresolved, such as closed door ballot counting, 1102 forms, candidate registration, as well as restricted political space and freedoms.
The political party representatives at the Friday event expressed that the “independence” of NEC is significant in ensuring free and fair elections.
Y Muyly, secretary-general of Khmer Will Party, urged the NEC to amend election laws and procedures, and especially conduct campaigns to disseminate information on the rights of citizens to stand as election candidates.
“It is very important to stand as a candidate because they are afraid at the grassroot level — they are threatened, intimidated, and [there are attempts to] ‘try to win the hearts’ [of voters]. So, party representatives dare not stand as candidates,” he said during the workshop.
He cited past experience when candidates resigned after seeking endorsement from commune chiefs to validate their documents, which ascertain their qualification.
You Seang Heng, deputy secretary-general of Candlelight Party, echoed Comfrel’s call while stressing for the right to political activities and the need to open up civic space.
“To show transparency, it should ensure fair competition among political parties,” he said.
He has also talked about the restriction to stand as a candidate with regards to the amended election laws, where candidates who voted in the last election are eligible to contest.
“It is a crucial issue which restricts the right of candidates to stand for election,” he said.
Candlelight Party was disqualified from participating in the 2023 national election after failing to provide an original copy of its 1998 registration document.
NEC deputy secretary-general Mok Dara said the election body was established in accordance with the Constitution, while adding that the NEC is an independent institution.
Regarding Comfrel’s findings, Dara said some of the things that happened relating to the “weather and geography” have been dealt with by the officers to ensure a smooth electoral process.
“Of course, some problems occurred […] for example, they raised the issue of the submission of complaints which were unresolved. However, complaints usually followed procedures. They must be resolved, except those wrong procedures,” he said.
Candlelight participated in the commune elections in 2022, gaining 22.25% of the ballot to Cambodian People’s Party’s (CPP) 74.32%. In 2023, CPP swept 120 out of 125 seats in the National Assembly election.
Deputy head of mission of the European Union Delegation to Cambodia Andreas Berg said the EU watched with concern the restricted political and civic space during the elections held in 2023.
“In our view, [the elections] excluded key opposition voices due to legal and procedural barriers which undermined the principles of democracy we all strive to uphold,” he said.
Berg said the EU remains committed to assisting the process of democracy and inclusivity in Cambodia. It also aims to help Cambodia meet fundamental freedoms such as freedom of speech, association and assembly.
There is no democracy that can credibly claim to be a democracy if there are no elections, he said, adding that elections provide citizens with the opportunity to shape their own future.
Political analyst Em Sovannara said to ensure free and fair elections, and impartiality, the NEC must be independent, noting that its members are involved with political parties, especially the ruling party.
“Citizens are seemingly losing confidence in the results of the elections, which is a negative point. Therefore, we have to reform our arbitrator [NEC] to be independent,” he said.
Regarding NEC’s independence, deputy secretary-general Mok Dara said they followed the law, and neither was subordinated to any institutions.
“We can clearly see that the election law is determined by the proportional system, so the NEC has no choice but to follow the law,” he said.
Ruling CPP spokesperson Sok Eysan dismissed the views by Comfrel and political parties over the restriction of political environments.
“It is useless to raise those issues after the election is over, and resolve election complaints because of the rights for political parties to freely contest in elections,” he said.
He noted that more than 40 political parties have registered with the Interior Ministry and conducted their activity freely and without any intimidations.
