25/07/23 (Agence Europe) – In a European External Action Service press release published on Monday 24 July, the European Union deplores the fact that the parliamentary elections in Cambodia (Sunday 23 July) excluded important sectors of the opposition due to the criminal convictions of political leaders and the disqualification of the main opposition party, the Candlelight Party. “The European Union attaches paramount importance to the inclusivity, transparency and credibility of elections, which are the backbone of any democratic society”, says the press release. More specifically, the EU expresses its concern at the amendments to the electoral law adopted a few weeks before the elections, restricting the right of all citizens to stand for election, and calls for the release of detained members of the opposition. Finally, the EU insists that the authorities respect the fundamental rights of the Cambodian people, their constitution and international standards. (PLD)