Voting begins in Cambodia as incumbent leader Hun Sen approaches a victory that is certain

Cambodians went to the polls on Sunday in a contest that longstanding leader Hun Sen is almost certain to win because he wants to pass the reins to his oldest son in order to preserve his legacy. The former Khmer Rouge cadre, 70, has been in power since 1985 and is almost unopposed in this election due to the expulsion of competitor candidates, the banning of opposition groups, and restrictions on free speech.

His Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) is set to keep all 125 seats in the lower house, extending his hold on authority and laying the groundwork for a dynastic succession that some detractors have likened to North Korean politics. It will be surprising if any of the 17 other tiny, poorly financed parties gain seats since the only genuine opposition party was disqualified in the run-up to the election on a technicality.

According to AFP journalists present at the time, Hun Sen cast his vote in the nation’s capital Phnom Penh immediately after polls opened at 7:00 am (0000 GMT).

The nation has been ravaged by years of strife, notably the homicidal Khmer Rouge, and this is the country’s eighth election, with more than 9.7 million people registered to vote.

The juggernaut of Hun Sen’s leadership has shattered whatever dreams the international world may have had for a thriving multi-party democracy in Cambodia during the last 30 years.

The seasoned prime minister has started to consider the future, declaring that he will transfer power to his son, four-star general Hun Manet, potentially within the next few weeks.

Prior to voting day, the 45-year-old scion led the last CPP rally in Phnom Penh and declared to a boisterous throng on Friday that it was “victory day” for the nation.

Although some might disagree, the impending election has been denounced by rights organizations.

A coalition of 17 organizations, including the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), described the surveys as being of “profound concern” on the night of the election.

“The upcoming electoral exercise indicates a notable absence of transparency, fairness, and inclusivity in the electoral process,” the coalition stated in a statement released on Saturday.

Parties have reconciled.

Hun Sen’s CPP has only really faced opposition from the Candlelight Party (CP). However, the country’s electoral commission declined to register it in May, making it ineligible to run.

The choice was made after the party outperformed expectations in the municipal elections of the previous year, obtaining 22% of the popular vote.

Internationally, Hun Sen has profited from tensions between the US and China by attracting large Chinese investment that did not impose any requirements for democratic changes.

The CP said to AFP before to the election that the registration decision rendered the election incapable of being free or fair.

The party’s vice president, Rong Chhun, said that everyone knows who would win in terms of the results.

Freedom of expression has been severely restricted in the run-up to the election, and Voice of Democracy, one of the few independent media sites still operating, was shut down early this year.

Hun Sen also ordered the revision of election regulations last month, which will have an impact on his exiled competitors since it would prevent anybody who doesn’t cast a ballot in the forthcoming election from ever competing for government.

Sam Rainsy, a longstanding rival who has been living in self-exile in France for nearly ten years to escape being convicted of crimes he claims are motivated by politics, is one of those contenders.

Domestic opposition leader Kem Sokha is now under house arrest after being found guilty of treason and given a 27-year prison term for allegedly conspiring with foreigners to overthrow Hun Sen’s administration.

‘I CANNOT EVALUATE’

Huge Hun Sen posters covered the city of Phnom Penh in the days before the election.

But now, many are turning to Hun Manet, who was educated in both the United States and the United Kingdom, and wondering whether a shift in the country’s leadership may bring about change.

“For me, I want to see his work first, then I can evaluate,” a 73-year-old Cambodian told AFP.

He declined to reveal his identity, saying, “For now, I cannot judge anything at this time.

Early results are anticipated to be available within hours of the polls closing at 3:00 pm.