PHNOM PENH: Minister of Interior Sar Kheng emphasized that the proposal to amend the election law was made in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of Cambodia and did not affect the "rights" of the Cambodian people, which is guaranteed by the Constitution.

On June 20, Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng met with the Chairman of the Legislative and Justice Committee of the National Assembly, Pen Panha, to discuss the draft of the constitutional amendment to change the elections law, which would forbid those who do not vote in this election from running for office in the future.

He said that the process of multi-party liberal democracy is firmly rooted in Cambodian society at both the national and regional level, and that the Cambodian people exercise their rights as good citizens, taking ownership of the fate of their nation.

The DPM also stated that in order to strengthen and enhance the responsibilities of political leaders to be elected through free, multi-party democratic elections, it is necessary for the Royal Government to amend the election law to reform the right to stand for election.

He stated that citizens who wish to run for office must have a high responsibility to the motherland and its people, starting with the consistent exercise of their right to vote, which the amendment states is the main task of good, responsible citizens in a democratic society.

He further emphasized that those who do not vote, without due cause, should not be considered good citizens in a democratic society and should not be allowed to be a candidate up for election. The amendment would also prevent anyone the government sees as “affecting or damaging the election process” from participating in the election.

According to the Constitution of Cambodia, the nation must adhere to a political system that governs the country in a liberal, multi-party manner in which the country's leaders are elected through free, fair and justice elections in accordance with the principles enshrined in the Constitution.