PHNOM PENH: Cambodia’s embattled opposition made significant gains in this weekend’s local elections, early results showed Monday, a vote closely watched for signs of vulnerability in one of the world’s longest serving leaders. In recent weeks Hun Sen has delivered a series of increasingly shrill speeches warning of civil war if his reign is toppled next year. By early Monday both the premier’s Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and the opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) released preliminary figures that tallied with each other. “This is a big success for the CNRP,” opposition party spokesman Yim Sovann told reporters. If the popular vote is confirmed they would hold some 500 of the country’s 1,646 communes, up from 40 won five years ago.

Source: Manila Times June 05, 2017 05:15 UTC