Disqualification means that the ruling Cambodian People’s Party under Hun Sen is likely to win the elections as it did in 2018.
Cambodia’s Election Commission has disqualified the Candlelight Party, the country’s main opposition party, from running in July’s elections, allowing the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) to rule virtually unopposed.
The commission said the party had failed to submit “proper registration documents”.
Other parties contested the general election, but Candlelight was by far the biggest challenger to the CPP and Prime Minister Hun Sen’s decades-long hold on power.
Kasit Piromya, a former Thai foreign minister, said in a statement on Tuesday: “The Hun Sen regime is once again demonstrating its utter disregard for the principles of democracy and unwillingness to participate in free and fair elections.
“If the world wants the results of July’s elections to be taken seriously, the Cambodian government must end all efforts to cripple its opponents and ensure that all parties are given the space to participate.”
The move against the Candlelight Party mirrors the ban on the opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) ahead of the last election in 2018, which allowed the CPP to win every seat in parliament. Formerly the Sam Rainsy Party, the Candlelight Party joined forces with the Human Rights Party to form the CNRP in 2012.
Following Candlelight’s disqualification, CPP spokesman Sok Eysan said the election would be free and fair and more than 10 parties had applied.
Hun Sen has previously said that the CPP will dominate Cambodian politics for up to 100 years.
Dozens of former CNRP members have been detained or convicted of crimes, many fleeing into exile in absentia amid Hun Sen’s continued crackdown on political rivals.
The Election Commission has required the Candlelight Party to present the original registration document from the Ministry of the Interior to register for the election.
That document was lost when police raided the CNRP’s headquarters in 2017, and it has participated in subsequent polls by submitting a photocopy of the letter.
Candlelight vice president Son Chhay said Candlelight would appeal to the constitutional court.
“We have a week for that,” he told Reuters news agency in a text message.
Human Rights Watch last month accused Cambodia’s government of stepping up attacks on the opposition with rhetoric that had led to attacks on Candlelight members.
It took aim at Hun Sen for what it said were warnings against criticizing his government ahead of the election.
In an April 24 statement, it said foreign governments should send a clear message that “dismantling opposition parties and disqualifying, beating and arresting their members before election day means there will be no real elections at all.”
The government has denied targeting its opponents, saying lawsuits were law enforcement.