The National Assembly’s permanent committee yesterday put forward Sam Prumnea, a former Tourism Ministry secretary of state, as a new member of Cambodia’s Constitutional Council.

He was the only one to apply for the job.

Assembly spokesman Leng Peng Long said the selection would be voted on by parliament during its April 4 plenary session, when high-level cabinet changes are also expected to be approved.

“The National Assembly took applications for a new Constitutional Council member for 15 days from March 14 to 28, during that time, six people requested application forms but only one [Prumnea] submitted a form,” Peng Long said.

Peng Long said that the new slot opened up following the end of the nine-year mandate of current Constitutional Council president Ek Sam Ol in June.

Prumnea needs a simple majority of votes in parliament to be approved.

The Constitutional Council is comprised of nine members. Three each are selected by the King, National Assembly and Supreme Council of Magistracy. It is often viewed as a rubber stamp for Cambodian People’s Party policy.

“It is my wish to contribute to the development of the country,” Prumnea said yesterday. “I have many years experience in administration, since the 1960s, but now it depends on the National Assembly whether to vote for me or not.”