PHNOM PENH: The Standing Committee of the National Assembly has approved the adoption of four draft laws, including the draft constitution on eight amendments to the constitution, sent to the specialized committee.

This decision was made after the President of the National Assembly, Heng Samrin, held a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Tuesday morning, 19 July.

The Draft Constitutional Law on the Amendment of Articles 19 (a), 89, 98, 102, 119 and 125 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia and Article 3 and 4 of the Additional Constitution, ensuring the normal functioning of national institutions, was approved by the Council of Ministers on 8 July 2022.

The new draft constitution allows the party with the most seats in the National Assembly to ask the King to appoint an elite as Prime Minister to form a government, and also details the process of when the Prime Minister is absent or resigns.

According to Justice Minister Koeut Rith, the current amendment to the Constitution was necessary to ensure the smooth functioning of state institutions, the maintenance of stability and peace, to fill the gaps of the Constitution, and to uphold the fundamental principles of liberal multi-party democracy and the principles of the constitutional monarchy of Cambodia.