Parties at loggerheads over campaign length

The ruling and opposition parties continued their bi-weekly election reform negotiations yesterday, but have not yet reached an agreement on the duration of a revised campaign period.

The ruling CPP wants to cut the campaign from its current 30 days to 14 days, but the opposition is asking for a 45-day campaign period, arguing that it does not have the same media reach, CNRP working group head Kouy Bunroeun told journalists.

His party also opposes a CPP proposal to only allow street rallies on the first and last days of the campaign.

Although that and the 14-day duration are already written in the draft law, CPP working group head Bin Chhin yesterday appeared flexible. He told reporters the CPP would agree to up to four days of street rallies and a campaign period of three weeks.

Changes to the election law are meant to be finalised by the end of this month, although it could extend into early March, the parties said.