Cambodian opposition party loses appeal, barred from upcoming elections

ISTANBUL (AA) – The Constitutional Council of Cambodia on Thursday upheld the National Election Committee's (NEC) decision to bar the main opposition Candlelight Party from the upcoming elections.

The decision was announced after a council meeting chaired by its President Im Chhun Lim, state-run AKP News reported.

This was the last resort for Candlelight Party to appeal against the NEC's decision.

Cambodia's NEC had officially blocked the Candlelight Party, the main opposition group in the country, from taking part in the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled on July 23.

“Some problems are politically motivated, and that makes it a bit difficult for our country,” Candlelight Party spokesman Kim Sour Phirith said.

Besides Candlelight Party, the NEC also barred Khmer United Great Nation Party from the upcoming elections "for non-compliance with the electoral laws, regulations and notifications of the NEC."

Some 9.7 million Cambodians will cast their votes in the July 23 National Assembly elections.