Dual-citizen party leaders offer support for PM proposal as the King is French

Three political party leaders who hold French citizenship, including CNRP president Sam Rainsy, said they would not object to a law banning party presidents from holding dual nationalities, proposed this week by Prime Minister Hun Sen. The premier on Monday ordered lawmakers from the ruling Cambodian People’s Party to “start work” next year on an amendment to the law on political parties, which, he said, would stop people who “face trouble” from fleeing abroad.

The remarks appeared personally targeted at Rainsy, who fled to Europe in November to avoid prison on charges widely perceived as politically motivated. Via email yesterday, the Cambodia National Rescue Party president said he had “no problem” with the law, but called for consistency, noting that King Norodom Sihamoni was also a dual national, with French citizenship, as were many CPP cabinet members, who were in a position to “really harm” Cambodia if a conflict of interest arose concerning their dual citizenship.

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