Cambodia election polls: What time do polling stations open? When do they close?

Prime Minister Hun Sen’s long-ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) is expected to win a one-sided race, despite 19 political parties standing in opposition.

Campaigning group Human Rights Watch, has labelled the national elections on July 29 as “not genuine”, while the United Nation has also questioned its validity.

A crackdown on independent media and opposition parties, plus fears of reprisals against voters for not choosing ex-Khmer Rouge commander Hun Sen’s party, are to blame.

Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said: “The Cambodian government over the past year has systematically cracked down on independent and opposition voices to ensure that the ruling party faces no obstacles to total political control.

“Dissolving the main opposition party and banning many of its senior members from politics means this election cannot possibly reflect the will of the Cambodian people.”

The statement was criticised by CPP as a direct attack on its rule and members.

What time do polling stations open? When do they close?

Polling stations will open at 7am local time (1am BST) on Sunday and close at 3pm (9am BST), according to Nikkei Asian Review.

Cambodia’s National Election Committee website was down repeatedly on Saturday when Express.co.uk tried to check.

School rooms in Cambodia’s capital Phnon Penh began their transformation into polling centres on Saturday with Yos Vanthan, head of the Toul Kork Primary School election committee, saying “I believe voters will come out to vote”.

What are the problems in Cambodia?

Former main opposition, the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), was shut down last year by the government and has urged voters to boycott the vote.

But Dim Sovannarom, a spokesman for the National Election Committee, said he expected more than 60 percent of registered voters to participate.

On Friday, Cambodia blocked international news agencies from accessing independent media websites – Reuters said it could not reach a government spokesman for comment.

In 2017, some 30 radio stations were closed down along with the Cambodia Daily, an English-language newspaper.

How is China involved?

China unveiled plans for a huge infrastructure project in Cambodia this week, with political analysts saying the country backs leader Hun Sen.

Chheang Vannarith, from the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore said: ”This is a bold step for China.

”In the past, China kept a very low profile when it came to elections and domestic politics in Cambodia. This time, China is being very assertive.”

Beijing was stung by a shock election defeat of Malaysia’s established coalition in May, which led to the suspension of more than $20 billion of China-backed projects.