Cambodia is facing a repeat of its previous "rigged" election scenario, as voters head to the polls on Sunday, with the main opposition party banned. Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has been in

power since 1985, has long maintained control through a network of interests involving the military, police, and intelligence agencies, sidelining or eliminating opponents.

Originally set up as a democracy by the UN in the 1990s, Cambodia has shifted towards an authoritarian one-party state under Hun Sen's rule. The current election is seen as a sham, as the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) is expected to emerge victorious once again, leaving no genuine opposition voice in parliament to represent the people's interests.

The Candlelight Party, the only credible opposition to emerge after the banning of the former opposition, was disqualified on a technicality after gaining significant support in local elections. Many of its leaders have been arrested, and even attempts to seek refuge with the UN were thwarted.

Hun Sen's erratic and repressive behavior has intensified as he nears the end of his era, and there are indications he may hand over power to his son after the election. Despite decades of international assistance, Cambodia's elections have been plagued by violence and irregularities, and the 2018 election marked a sharp decline in democratic competition when the main opposition party shocked Hun Sen by capturing 44% of the national vote in 2013.

The current situation has left Cambodian voters feeling hopeless, silenced, and disillusioned with the political process, further solidifying Hun Sen's grip on power. Photo by 首相官邸ホームページ, Wikimedia commons.