Roads, Ferry Service Closed for the First National Assembly Session
A Buddhist monk walks past the National Assembly building in Phnom Penh on June 23, 2023. (Photo by TANG CHHIN Sothy / AFP)
- By Te Chhaysinh
- August 20, 2023 7:00 PM
PHNOM PENH — The Phnom Penh Capital Administration announced on Aug. 19 that four street segments and two ferry terminals located near the National Assembly building will be closed on Aug. 21 and 22 due to the opening of the first session of the 7th National Assembly.
The temporary closure will start near the National Assembly building at 5 a.m. on Aug. 21 and will be maintained until the end of the ceremonies, according to the administration’s Facebook post.
The first street segment to be blocked goes from the statue of Samdech Chuon Nath in the roundabout to the Russian Embassy traffic light on Sothearos Boulevard.
The second one is the Samdech Heng Samrin Street from Samdech Hun Sen Street to National Assembly Street.
The third segment is Street 78 from Samdech Hun Sen Street to National Assembly Street. And the fourth one is JICA Street going from Tonle Toch Street to National Assembly Street.
As for the ferry terminals, the first ferry terminal is the Koh Pich-Koh Norea, and the second one the Phnom Penh-Chroy Changvar.
Docking for the Phnom Penh-Arey Ksat terminal will temporarily shift from the Phnom Penh docking area to the Chroy Changvar docking area.
These temporary closures are meant to ensure that the ceremony runs smoothly, and that security, safety and order are maintained, the administration’s Facebook post read.
The first session of the 7th National Assembly on Aug. 21 is presided over by King Norodom Sihamoni. Later during the day, all elected members of parliament will be sworn in at the Royal Palace before assuming their duties.
On Aug. 22, the parliamentarians will vote to elect the leadership in parliament including the president and vice-presidents of the National Assembly, the president and vice-president of the expert committees of the National Assembly. They will also vote to approve the new cabinet.
The new government leadership will be led by Prime Minister-designated Hun Manet. The new ministers will mostly consist of children of Cambodian People’s Party’s old guard.
Khuon Sudary will be the new president of the National Assembly, succeeding long-time president Heng Samrin who will continue his work as a member of parliament.
