Cambodia’s Hun Sen claims victory in general elections

ANKARA

Cambodia’s current Prime Minister Hun Sen claimed victory based on initial results of general elections on Sunday, local media reported.

Since no viable opposition contested in the elections, the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) secured an estimated 80 percent of the votes and at least 100 of the 125 seats in the parliament, Singapore-based Channel News Asia reported citing party spokesperson Sok Eysan.

“It is not less than 100 seats and it could be more than 100 seats,” he said, Channel News Asia reported.

According to the National Election Commission, more than 82 percent of registered voters or over 6.8 million people has cast their ballots.

Official results are expected to be announced on Aug. 15.

Some 8.3 million people registered to vote in the elections, Kyodo News Agency reported.

Besides the Cambodian People's Party, 19 other small parties also contested. None of the other parties won a seat in the 2013 elections.

Last year, Cambodia's main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) was dissolved by a court order.

Sam Rainsy, a former leader of the CNRP now living in exile, had called for a boycott of the election, the news agency said.

Hun Sen has been ruling the country for the last 33 years.