PHNOM PENH: The National Assembly has turned out a unanimous vote for the kingdom’s constitutional amendments, mandating only Khmer nationality for the country’s top office bearers. All 111 members of the National Assembly voted in favour of the amendments on Monday morning. The amendments were initiated by Prime Minister Hun Sen in response to false foreign media reports that he held a Cypriot passport.

All voted yes for only Khmer Nationality for the President of the Senate, the President of the National Assembly, the Prime Minister and the President of the Constitutional Council. Monday morning’s plenary session of the National Assembly, presided over by National Assembly president, Heng Samrin, has approved amendments to constitutional articles 3, 4 and 137. It has also approved the new articles of 19, 82, 106 and 119. All ensure the “normal functioning of national institutions, as well as demonstrate loyalty to the kingdom and avoid any foreign interference”.

The move was initiated by Prime Minister Hun Sen on 6 October following a false report in the British newspaper, the Guardian, stating that the Prime Minister held a Cypriot passport. The article has since been corrected and the paper has expressed “regret” for any stress it caused. After the amendments were approved on Monday, Prime Minister Hun Sen said the door is “closed forever for two nationalities for those wanting to hold top positions, especially the post of Prime Minister.”

The amendments now move to the Senate where a two-thirds majority is also needed. A vote there is expected as soon as next week.