Communal elections were held in Cambodia on 5 June 2022. It was the fifth quinquennial communal election in Cambodia since 2002. 1,652 communes in all 25 provinces of Cambodia were contested for a total of 11,622 commune council seats. The election precedes the 2023 general election and the 2024 Senate election. 9.2 million of 10.5 million eligible voters were registered to cast their ballots. Voter turnout was 80.3%.
The result was a landslide victory for the Cambodian People's Party which won 74% of the popular vote, 1,648 commune chiefs, and more than 9,000 commune councillors. The resurgent Candlelight Party, a faction of the disbanded Cambodia National Rescue Party, won 22% of the popular vote, but only 4 commune chiefs. It also marked the first time ever that no party was led by either Sam Rainsy, Kem Sokha, and Norodom Ranariddh. The aftermath of the election was marked by continued arrests of opposition supporters.
Background The main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party was dissolved in November 2017 following the communal elections.
Major parties contesting
82,786 candidates from 17 political parties contested the election according to the National Election Committee (NEC). The Cambodian People's Party (CPP) had fielded candidates in all 1,652 communes, followed by the Candlelight Party at 1,632 communes, and FUNCINPEC at 688 communes.
Parties contesting the elections:
Beehive Social Democratic Party Cambodia Reform Party Cambodian Democratic Indigenous People's Party Cambodian Nation Love Party Cambodian Nationality Party Cambodian People's Party Cambodian Youth Party Candlelight Party FUNCINPEC Grassroots Democratic Party Kampucheaniyum Party Khmer Economic Development Party Khmer National United Party Khmer United Party Khmer Will Party Reaksmey Khemara Party
Results PartyVotes%SwingChiefs+/–Councillors+/–Cambodian People's Party 5,378,773 74.32 23.5 1,648 492 9,376 2,873 Candlelight Party 1,610,556 22.25 22.2 4 4 2,198 2198FUNCINPEC 91,798 1.27 0.63 0 0 19 9Khmer National United Party 63,868 0.88 0.25 0 1 13 11Cambodia National Love Party 33,259 0.46 0.46 0 05 5Cambodian Youth Party 13,841 0.19 0.170 03 3Cambodia Nationality Party 13,140 0.18 0.15 0 000Khmer Will Party 7,556 0.10 0.10 0 0 00Grassroots Democratic Party 6,807 0.09 0.02 0 06 1Cambodia Reform Party 5,024 0.07 0.07 0 000Kampucheaniyum Party 4,856 0.07 0.070 0 1 1Beehive Social Democratic Party 2,460 0.03 0.42 0 010Cambodia Indigenous People's Democracy Party 1,634 0.02 0 0 0 00Khmer United Party 1,599 0.02 0.02 0 000Ekpheap Cheat Khmer Party 1,126 0.02 0.020 000Reaksmey Khemara Party 446 0.01 0.01 0 0 00Khmer Economic Development Party 294 0.00 0.000 000Total7,237,0371001001,652 611,622 50Valid votes 7,237,037 97.87 Invalid/blank votes 157,390 2.13 Total votes 7,394,427100 Registered voters/turnout 9,205,681 80.3 Source: National Election Committee ProvinceCPPCLPFUNCINPECVotes%Votes%Votes%Banteay Meanchey194,54372.23%55,90020.75%4,3811.63%Battambang347,06276.10%94,74420.77%5,5211.21%Kampong Cham339,27970.09%125,87526.00%4,8361.00%Kampong Chhnang202,95771.40%66,99123.57%6,3232.22%Kampong Speu384,95478.13%90,00218.27%6,9461.21%Kampong Thom205,88262.63%94,32328.69%16,2264.94%Kampot232,47973.19%75,99923.93%5,2791.68%Kandal481,74474.18%154,37123.77%5,0080.77%Koh Kong44,99279.56%10,35618.31%640.11%Kratié120,55072.62%35,21621.22%5,5053.32%Mondulkiri29,67682.33%4,43412.30%2810.78%Phnom Penh536,62576.95%151,26221.69%3,3950.49%Preah Vihear84,79173.68%25,13021.84%1,7631.53%Prey Veng398,04571.35%140,72825.23%3,7830.68%Pursat195,65685.26%32,14314.01%6050.26%Ratanakiri69,83883.31%11,73514.00%1600.19%Siem Reap306,66869.37%115,58926.15%6,9381.57%Preah Sihanouk86,30880.10%17,40016.15%1,8571.72%Stung Treng55,89877.98%12,00916.75%2,6633.71%Svay Rieng245,16474.98%75,52823.10%3,4801.06%Takéo406,95875.83%118,06122.00%2,3310.43%Kep19,28484.86%2,89312.73%4421.95%Pailin25,45881.79%5,09516.37%00.00%Oddar Meanchey87,06980.67%16,35315.15%1780.16%Tboung Khmum276,89575.72%78,41921.44%4,8331.32%Source: National Election Committee
References