PHNOM PENH —
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy said Tuesday that political negotiations with the ruling party have hit an impasse.
The ruling Cambodian People’s Party “refuses to discuss any changes to the composition of the electoral commission,” he wrote in an open letter to the diplomatic community.
The National Election Committee is central to future elections and “is currently under the ruling party’s control,” Sam Rainsy wrote.
His message comes after both parties failed to issue a joint statement following negotiations on Monday.
In separate statements Monday, both sides alluded to disagreements over the NEC’s construction.
The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party says it wants the NEC to be a constitutional institution, with its members selected by a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly, a position the CPP has rejected.
Yem Ponearith, a member of the Rescue Party’s negotiation team, said the party’s position on the NEC is “very crucial” to the negotiations. A continued rejection of the position by the CPP “will result in political crisis,” he said.
The CPP said in its statement it is facing the “insistence” of the Rescue Party, which has “led to an obstacle to the negotiation.”
The ruling Cambodian People’s Party “refuses to discuss any changes to the composition of the electoral commission,” he wrote in an open letter to the diplomatic community.
The National Election Committee is central to future elections and “is currently under the ruling party’s control,” Sam Rainsy wrote.
His message comes after both parties failed to issue a joint statement following negotiations on Monday.
In separate statements Monday, both sides alluded to disagreements over the NEC’s construction.
The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party says it wants the NEC to be a constitutional institution, with its members selected by a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly, a position the CPP has rejected.
Yem Ponearith, a member of the Rescue Party’s negotiation team, said the party’s position on the NEC is “very crucial” to the negotiations. A continued rejection of the position by the CPP “will result in political crisis,” he said.
The CPP said in its statement it is facing the “insistence” of the Rescue Party, which has “led to an obstacle to the negotiation.”
