In Cambodia, national assembly passes draft constitutional amendment barring dual citizenship for top positions

The National Assembly yesterday unanimously passed the new draft Constitutional Amendment limiting the top four national positions only to Khmer nationality. All 111 parliamentarians voted in favour of the draft during a plenary session in the morning. The new law bans the Prime Minister, the presidents of the Senate and National Assembly, and the president of the Constitutional Council from holding any other citizenship other than Cambodian to “avoid foreign interference and show loyalty to the nation.” The amendment includes Articles 19 (New), 82, 106 (New, 1), 119 (New), and 137 (New) of the Constitution; and Articles 3 and 4 of the Additional Constitutional Law. National Assembly president Heng Samrin said in the plenary session the draft law will now be sent to the Senate for debate. “This draft constitution will be promulgated soon after procession to the Senate and signed into law by His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni,” said Samrin. Minister of the Council of Ministers Bin Chhin said during the plenary session that the draft constitutional amendment was approved in order to protect the country’s sovereignty and independence from internal interference by another country, even a powerful one.
Read the full article here: Khmer Times