1966 Cambodian general election explained

Election Name:1966 Cambodian general election
Country:Cambodia
Type:parliamentary
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1962 Cambodian general election
Previous Year:1962
Next Election:1972 Cambodian general election
Next Year:1972
Seats For Election:All 82 seats in the National Assembly
Majority Seats:42
Election Date:11 September 1966
Leader1:Norodom Sihanouk
Party1:Sangkum
Seats Before1:77
Seats1:82
Seat Change1: 5
Percentage1:100%
Prime Minister
Before Election:Norodom Kantol
Before Party:Sangkum
After Election:Lon Nol
After Party:Sangkum

General elections were held in Cambodia on 11 September 1966.[1] Only candidates of the Sangkum party were allowed to contest the election, although more than one candidate could run in a constituency. As a result, the party won all 82 seats.[2] The conservative wing of the Sangkum gained a majority. On 18 October the National Assembly of Cambodia nominated Lon Nol as Prime Minister.

Results

Only 28 of the 82 deputies had been previously elected to Parliament, six of whom were members of the conservative wing of the Sangkum.

Government formation

The conservative wing of the Sangkum won a two-thirds majority in parliament, meaning Sihanouk could not prevent the opposition from blocking nominations. As a result, Lon Nol was elected Prime Minister with 59 votes in favour and 23 against.

Notes and References

  1. [Dieter Nohlen]
  2. Nohlen et al., p74