Cambodia's newly-formed gov't "legitimate": PM

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Cambodia's newly-formed gov't "legitimate": PM

(Xinhua) 19:14, September 25, 2013

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Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday defended that his newly-formed government was " legitimate" since the nation's King Norodom Sihamoni had given endorsement.

"This government is a legitimate government, which was born from the election and was endorsed by the king," the premier said during first cabinet meeting.

He said the opening session of parliament was convened by the king, not by the United Nations Secretary General or any diplomats or presidents of other countries.

"The king has signed to recognize the new government already," he said. "It is no need for the U.N. Secretary General or signatory countries in the Paris Accord to give their endorsement. "

The premier's remarks came after the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) announced on Wednesday that it did not recognize the Prime Minister Hun Sen-led government, which was formed on Tuesday.

"Our stance is that we do not recognize the government that was formed earlier this week, it was a violation of the constitution and against the principle of multi-party liberal democracy," CNRP' s President Sam Rainsy said in a press briefing at the party's headquarters. "We cannot cooperate in any image with this government."

He warned to call a nationwide general strike for factory workers, civil servants and shopkeepers if the ruling party does not agree to an independent poll probe committee into alleged electoral fraud.

Sam Rainsy also called on the international community to condemn the newly-formed government and urged big foreign investors to ignore the country.

The parliament, formed by the ruling party's 68 lawmakers, on Tuesday voted for the formation of a new government under the leadership of Hun Sen even though the opposition's 55 legislators boycotted the session since it refused to accept the results of the July 28 election.

Hun Sen said Tuesday the new parliament and government were formed in accordance with the constitution despite a boycott of the opposition.

He said, under the constitution, a new government was formed by a 50 percent plus one majority, or 63 lawmakers, in the parliament.

Hun Sen, 61, who has been in power for 28 years, was sworn in for another five-year term on Tuesday.