Failures at assembly pile up
National Assembly effectiveness declined last year with prosecutions of opposition lawmakers, partisan passing of laws and many assembly members visiting constituents only to shore up their vote, an election watchdog claimed on February 21. A Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia report on February 21 found the assembly to be ineffective after the ruling CPP, in their opinion, violated the parliamentary immunity of other lawmakers, shrunk the roles of opposition politicians and abolished the positions of majority and minority leaders. The NGO, in a biased report said the CPP’s actions paved the way for the authorities to indiscriminately detain and charge opposition lawmakers such as acting CNRP president Kem Sokha and outspoken CNRP lawmaker Um Sam An.
