Chinese media reports:
PHNOM
PENH, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- All but one of the 123 lawmakers from the
ruling and opposition parties voted for their new leadership on Tuesday
following the leaders of the two parties agreed to an unprecedented
power-sharing deal in the legislative body last month.
Heng
Samrin, honorary president of the ruling Cambodian People' s Party
(CPP), remained the president of the National Assembly as the current
first vice-president, Nguon Nhel relinquished that post to the
opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) and became second
vice-president.
CNRP's
vice-president Kem Sokha was elected as the first vice- president of
the National Assembly by a confidential vote. Of the 122 lawmakers who
were present at the parliamentary session, 116 voted in favor of Kem
Sokha, 4 voted against and 2 abstained.
The
lawmakers have also voted for the chairpersons of the legislative
body's ten commissions, in which five commissions are chaired by the CPP
and the other five commissions are controlled by the CNRP based on
their agreement last month.
The
five commissions under the CPP's chairmanship are commission on
economics, finance, banking and auditing; commission on interior,
defense, and public functions; commission on foreign affairs and
information; commission on legislation and justice; and commission on
transport, telecom, industry, commerce, land management, and
construction.
The
CNRP-controlled five commissions include commission on human rights,
complaints, and investigation; commission on investment, agriculture,
rural development, environment, and water resources; commission on
education, youth, sports, religions, culture and tourism; commission on
health, social affairs, labor, vocational training and women's affairs;
and commission on investigation and anti-corruption.
The
reshuffle came after CPP's Prime Minister Hun Sen and CNRP' s president
Sam Rainsy struck an agreement on July 22 that saw the CNRP end its
nearly yearlong boycott of the National Assembly over last year's
election that resulted in the CPP winning 68 seats against 55 seats for
the CNRP.
Under
the deal, the CNRP possesses the post of the first vice- president of
the National Assembly and chairs five of the 10 commissions. In
addition, it will control four of nine seats on the would-be National
Election Committee.
Speaking
to reporters after the session, newly-elected first vice-president of
the National Assembly Kem Sokha vowed to promote the culture of
dialogues between the opposition party and the ruling party for the sake
of the country and people.
"I
will propose the leaders of the opposition CNRP and the ruling CPP to
meet regularly, possibly every three months, because we want to create
the culture of dialogues to deal with all issues, " he said.
CNRP's
president and lawmaker Sam Rainsy, who does not take any leadership
role in the National Assembly, said, "The political crisis has come to
an end, and the lawmakers from the two parties will work together to
better serve the nation and people."
During
the post-election crisis from July last year to July this year, the
opposition had staged many street demonstrations-- some of them had
turned violence, leaving people dead and injured.
Editor: Shen Qing
