CNRP Lawmakers in Siem Reap as Boycott Starts

CNRP lawmakers on Sunday took an oath in front of Angkor Wat swearing they would boycott today’s opening session of the National Assembly and promising “not to betray the conscience of the people.” With the opposition in Siem Reap, the ruling CPP—which officially won a majority of the Assembly’s 123 seats—said its own 68 lawmakers would attend this morning’s opening parliamentary session in Phnom Penh as well as a swearing-in ceremony at the Royal Palace scheduled for this afternoon. … The CPP’s Prak Sokhon, a secretary of state at the Council of Min­isters, said his party was just as determined to press on with the As­sembly’s opening session today, as well as the business of officially forming the next government by appointing ministers and other senior positions the following day. “After the meeting we will go to the Royal Palace,” he said of today’s schedule. “We will take an oath [today] and we will organize the structure of the National Assembly and the head of government the next day.” Whether the Constitution allows the CPP to do all that without the opposition has analysts and lawyers divided. The opposition insists the CPP cannot simply form a government on its own. But Mr. Sokhon said it can—and will. “The Constitution doesn’t prevent us; it opens the way for us,” he said. Though Mr. Hun Sen had threatened to give the opposition’s seats to the CPP if it goes through with a boycott, Mr. Sokhon and National Election Committee officials have since denied such an eventuality could happen. …

 Hul Reaksmey and Zsombor Peter
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/elections/cnrp-lawmakers-in-siem-reap-as-boycott-starts-42886/