Politics of Cambodia
In practice, Cambodia is an authoritarian state, as power is centralized in the hands of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) under long-standing leader Hun Sen.[1][2][3] Civil society groups, independent media and opposition parties are repressed, and elections are not free and fair.
[2] The collapse of communism set in motion events that led to the withdrawal of the Vietnamese armed forces, which had established their presence in the country since the fall of the Khmer Rouge.
[4] The 1993 constitution, which is currently in force, was promulgated as a result of the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements, followed by elections organized under the aegis of the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia.
The constitution declares Cambodia to be an "independent, sovereign, peaceful, permanently neutral and non-aligned country.
"[5] The constitution also proclaims a liberal, multiparty democracy in which powers are devolved to the executive, the judiciary and the legislature.
[12] The constitution, which prescribes the governing framework, was promulgated in September 1993 by the Constituent Assembly that resulted from the 1993 general election conducted under the auspices of the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC).
The assembly adopted the basic principles and measures mandated under the Paris Peace Agreements into the text of the constitution.
Assimilated into the governing charter, these provisions place the constitution as the supreme law of the land; declare Cambodia's status as a sovereign, independent and neutral state; enshrine a liberal, multi-party democracy with fair and periodic elections; guarantee respect for human rights; and provide for an independent judiciary.
[13] The brutality of the Democratic Kampuchea regime had especially necessitated the inclusion of provisions concerning human rights[14] in order to prevent a return to the policies and practices of the past.
[24][25] The constitution contains a commitment to the "market economy system", which along with accompanying provisions effects a fundamental change in the role of the state from the past.
[26] Security of private property and the right to sell and exchange freely, necessary conditions for the functioning of the market economy,[27] are provided for.
The state's powers of expropriation are limited to the extent they serve public interest, to be exercised only when "fair and just" compensation is made in advance.
The king is officially the head of state and is the symbol of unity and "perpetuity" of the nation, as defined by Cambodia's constitution.
Under the constitution, the king has no political power, but as Norodom Sihanouk was revered in the country, his word often carried much influence in the government.
On the occasion of King Norodom Sihanouk's retirement in September 2004, the Cambodian National Assembly coined a new word for the retired king: preăhmôhavireăkksăt (Khmer regular script: ព្រះមហាវីរក្សត្រ), where vireăk comes from Sanskrit vīra, meaning "brave or eminent man, hero, chief", cognate of Latin vir, viris, English virile.
As preăhmôhavireăkksăt, Norodom Sihanouk retained many of the prerogatives he formerly held as preăhmôhaksăt and was a highly respected and listened-to figure.
The king does not have veto power over bills passed by the National Assembly and thus, cannot withhold royal assent.
The National Assembly also has the power to dismiss the prime minister and his government by a two-thirds vote of no confidence.
[34] As of 2006[update], the Cambodian People's Party holds forty-three seats in the Senate, constituting a significant majority.
[36] The main duties of the judiciary are to prosecute criminals, settle lawsuits, and, most importantly, protect the freedoms and rights of Cambodian citizens.
Cambodia is a member of the ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), International Monetary Fund, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WB, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, WToO, WTrO (applicant) Below the central government are 24 provincial and municipal administration.
[40] Provincial and municipal administrations participate in the creation of nation budget; they also issue land titles and license businesses.
