Leaders of the National Election Committee (NEC) who break the law will be removed from their posts by the National Assembly, officials said yesterday.

The comments came after a meeting between Cambodian People’s Party and Cambodia National Rescue Party working groups.

If the “president or deputy president of the NEC does not act properly, according to the law, the parliament can dismiss him, because he must be responsible before parliament as he is appointed by [them]”, said CPP working group chief Bin Chhin. NEC members can be removed with a majority of votes from the National Assembly, Chhin added.

Koul Panha, executive director of Comfrel, said he supported the removal of NEC members if they commit serious offences but said parliament must defend them if the accusations were unjust.

The CNRP’s Kuoy Bunroeun said the groups had come closer to reaching full agreement on a new NEC law, with talks to finish next week.