Cambodia: Interior Minister Briefs Constitutional Council on Draft Local Administration Law Amendments Ahead of Review

On the morning of September 9, 2026, H.E. Sar Sokha, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, led a delegation to meet with H.E. Him Sophea, President of the Constitutional Council, to clarify certain points of the draft law amending the Law on Administration of Communes and Sangkats. The law is scheduled for a constitutionality review by the Constitutional Council on the following day. The General Secretariat of the Constitutional Council announced via press release on September 8 that, at the request of the President of the National Assembly, the Constitutional Council will convene its plenary session on September 10, 2026, to review the constitutionality of the draft law amending the Law on Administration of Communes and Sangkats. This follows the law's approval by the National Assembly on August 20, 2026, and its subsequent review and unanimous endorsement in form and substance without amendment by the Senate on September 4, 2026. The Constitutional Council is currently undertaking constitutionality review procedures to ensure that this amendment aligns with the provisions stipulated in the Constitution of Cambodia. Meanwhile, some non-governmental parties have reacted and opposed this amendment, including the three senators from the Khmer Will Party, who did not vote in favor of the law. These objections stem from the parties' belief that the amendment to the Law on Administration of Communes and Sangkats negatively impacts the democratic process and governance by diminishing the balance of power at the local level. However, the Royal Government asserts that the amendment to the Law on Administration of Communes and Sangkats aims to refine the formula or method for determining leadership positions in commune and sangkat administrations, making them more appropriate to the actual situation and consistent with the election results reflecting the will of the people. The government states that through this law, the administration of communes and sangkats will be enhanced to be more effective, transparent, and highly accountable in providing public services to the citizens at the grassroots level. It is worth noting that the Law on Amendments to the Law on Administration of Communes and Sangkats consists of two articles. Article 1 stipulates amendments by revising four articles of the Law on Administration of Communes and Sangkats, promulgated by Royal Decree on March 19, 2001, namely Articles 33, 34, 35, and 38. Article 2 stipulates the implementation of the provisions of this law starting from the preparation for the election of commune and sangkat council members for the 6th mandate onwards.