Early indications showed Cambodian People’s Party ruling party headed for victory.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s ruling party was predicted a winner in local elections Sunday as people voted in large numbers for the first time since a 2018 general election that was widely criticized as unfair.

Mr. Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party was virtually certain to capture the lion’s share of 11,622 council seats being contested in 1,652 communes throughout the country. The party has held an iron grip on power for decades, and has the huge advantage of controlling almost every local government. Its opponents are less organized, with much fewer resources and have complained of intimidation and threats.

The preliminary results were set to be announced commune by commune by state media on Sunday night, but an aggregated official tally won’t be given until June 26.

Several governors quoted by the Fresh News website, which is close to the government, said unofficial results showed Mr. Hun Sen’s party winning most council races in their provinces. Earlier, news websites that broadcast counts from polling stations had generally put the ruling party in the lead.

Turnout was more than 77 per cent out of 9.2 million registered voters, said Prach Chan, chairman of the National Election Committee.

He said the election was free and fair, without intimidation or threats, contrary to the U.N. Human Rights Office in Geneva that last week said there has been a “pattern of threats, intimidation and obstruction targeting opposition candidates.”



The Only Party With Candidates In the Regions

Mr. Hun Sen’s party was the only one to field candidates in all the communes. Its most serious challenger was the Candlelight Party, which was rallying opposition supporters.

In the last communal elections in 2017, the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party made an unexpectedly strong showing, which led Mr. Hun Sen’s government to crack down on it as well as independent media.

The party was dissolved by the Supreme Court on a charge of treason, widely seen as politically motivated, and the free press was driven out of business or cowed into submission. Many politicians left the country.

Without the Cambodian National Rescue Party on the ballot, Mr. Hun Sen’s party was assured of victory in the general election the following year, taking all the seats in the National Assembly.

Full results were expected on Monday.