His was a common complaint on Sunday. The opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) claimed that more than 1 million voters were omitted from polling center lists all over the country, preventing them from voting in Cambodia’s closest election in nearly two decades.
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy rejected the ruling party’s claim to victory on Monday morning, citing cheating and calling for an investigation into the alleged election fraud.
“We ask the government and the NEC [National Election Committee, Cambodia’s electoral management body] to send a representative to join the committee we propose,” says Yim Sovann, spokesman for the CNRP.
Government spokesman Phay Siphan dismissed the opposition’s call for an investigation, saying that opposition parties typically contest election results and that there are official agencies in place to address electoral complaints. “The NEC was established by the assembly and has this mandate, and there is also the Constitutional Council,” he says.