Despite the increase in opposition senate seats in January’s elections, there will be no changes to the current ruling Cambodian People’s Party domination of senate commission leadership, officials said yesterday.

The opposition Sam Rainsy Party, which increased its senate seats from 2 to 11 in the recent vote, called on the CPP to amend the current framework for nominating leadership roles in the nine senate commissions to better enable an opposition voice in the CPP-dominated parliament and senate.

“SRP must have the post of chairman in the commissions to have a balance of power between the parties,” SRP spokesman Yim Sovann said yesterday.

However, senior CPP lawmaker Cheam Yeap told the Post yesterday that there would be no change to the 50 per cent plus 1 vote for senate commission chairmen.

“According to the joint principle of the party, we have to share the posts for senate commissions, but it also depends on senate president [Chea Sim],” Cheam Yeap said.