Cambodia local polls will aid both parties for now

Significance

Cambodia has 1,646 such councils, which administer groups of villages. The elections, for councillors and commune council chiefs, were the first test of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and Kem’s opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) since the 2013 election when both parties first faced each other.

Impacts

• Expecting policy stability and continuing economic growth, investors will welcome the CPP’s commune majority.
• Without a commune majority, the CNRP lacks a majority for the January 2018 Cambodian senate elections.
• This will reduce the party’s ability to influence legislation in what is otherwise generally seen as a ‘rubber stamp’ chamber.