Opposition Looks to Erode Hun Sen’s Majority as Cambodia Votes

Cambodians are voting in a general election on Sunday with longtime Prime Minister Hun Sen fending off opposition momentum and expected to win another five-year term.

Asia's Longest-Serving Prime Minister in Line to Remain in Power

By Chun Han
The Wall Street Journal

A Cambodian casts her ballot at a polling station in a pagoda in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Sunday.

European Pressphoto Agency

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia—Cambodians are voting in a general election on Sunday with longtime Prime Minister Hun Sen fending off opposition momentum and expected to win another five-year term.

Disaffection as a result of land disputes, rising youth unemployment and corruption may see Mr. Hun Sen—Asia’s longest-serving prime minister with 28 years in power—and his Cambodian People’s Party returned to power with a smaller majority, analysts said.

“The CPP may lose a few more seats than last time but the absolute majority shouldn’t be in danger,” Wolfgang Sachsenroeder, a researcher at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore, said.

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy and his Cambodia National Rescue Party in a monthlong campaign rallied supporters, including many young urbanites, with calls for “change” and a pledge to end land disputes, create more jobs and raise living standards.

Polls opened at 7 a.m. local time and will close at 3 p.m. Unofficial results are expected on Sunday evening. Eight parties are contesting the election but the CPP and the Cambodia National Rescue Party are the main contenders. There are 9.6 million eligible voters, many of whom are voting for the first time.

The CPP—which has governed Cambodia since 1979—won 90 out of 123 seats in 2008 with about 58% of the vote. Opposition forces now comprising the Cambodia National Rescue Party after a merger last year claimed 29 seats five years ago.

The economy, living standards and social issues are the main concerns, voters in Phnom Penh said.

“I’m hoping for a fair and equal chance at employment,” said 20-year-old student Phyna Rith, a who hopes to work in the financial industry. “I want to see the government do more to improve human rights, infrastructure and also sanitation—especially in Phnom Penh.”

“Development and stability for the country is important—that’s what’s good for the people,” Song Busean, 28, said. “I think these elections have been reasonably fair.”

Mr. Hun Sen, 60, and CPP officials champion their record of bringing stability and development to one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing economies. They also warn that defeat may spark civil war.

Opposition leaders and rights activists have accused the CPP of unfair tactics—allegations the ruling party denies. It challenged opposition accusers to produce evidence to the National Election Committee—a nominally independent agency that is led by officials closely linked to the ruling party.

The CPP has restricted independent news media and Internet access, intimidated dissidents and misused state forces and public funds in the campaign, opposition leaders and rights groups allege.

Ink used to mark voters’ fingers to prevent repeat voting is easily removed, local election watchdog Comfrel said on Friday. Nearly all districts of the capital have voter-registration rates of more 100% and the city’s election rolls show more than 25,000 duplicate names, according to local English-language daily the Phnom Penh Post.

Mr. Rainsy—a 64-year-old former finance minister—failed to register in time and can’t contest the poll, the election commission said. The ruling is politically motivated, according to the opposition leader who returned to the country on July 19 from a four-year exile in Paris following a royal pardon this month.

The campaign for Sunday’s vote has been the most peaceful and is the fifth general election since a 1991 United Nations-brokered cease-fire that ended decades of civil war and genocide.

“I don’t believe these warnings about a possible civil war,” said Seasun Tharon, a 45-year-old teacher and voter in Phnom Penh. “After all, one side has all the guns while the other has nothing.”

–Sun Narin contributed to this article.

Write to Chun Han Wong at chunhan.wong@dowjones.com