Cambodia's ruling party wins all seats in parliament

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Cambodia's ruling party has swept all seats in parliament, an election committee official said on Wednesday, two weeks after a disputed poll was held without an opposition.

The party "won all 125 parliamentary seats," National Election Committee (NEC) spokesman Dim Sovannarom said.

A large crowd gathered at Koh Pick Island in Phnom Penh for CPP's last rally before election day on July 29th, 2018. /VCG Photo‍

Voter turnout was 83 percent, the NEC said in a separate statement on Wednesday, up from 69.6 percent in the previous election in 2013.

The CPP eventually contested the ballot along with 19 other parties. The royalist Funcinpec party of Prince Norodom Ranariddh, once Hun Sen’s main rival but now aligned with him, came second with 374,510 votes.

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent his congratulations to Hun Sen, saying that Cambodia has achieved political stability, fast economic growth and remarkable success under his leadership.

"We believe that the CPP will continue to unite and lead the Cambodian people to follow the development path suitable for their own conditions, promote economic development, improve people's livelihood, enhance national unity, and make more contribution to Cambodia's national prosperity, people's happiness and regional stability and development," Xi noted.

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen delivers his address beofore a huge gathering for garment workers in Phnom Penh on August 15, 2018. /VCG Photo

Following the official result, Hun Sen thanked his supporters in a message posted on Facebook. “People have decided to choose peace, development and continue to democracy in the country,” he said.

The main opposition party: the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), was dissolved last year by the Supreme Court and 118 of its members were banned from politics for five years.

CNRP leader Kem Sokha was jailed on treason charges in September. He remains in pre-trial detention.

(With inputs from agencies)