No vote, no holding office

New rules: Members of parliament attending a meeting at the National Assembly building in Phnom Penh. — AFP

THE country’s parliament approved a new law banning anyone who fails to vote in an upcoming national poll from running for office in future elections, in a move that will affect exiled rivals.

The kingdom votes in a general election next month with Prime Minister Hun Sen’s party running almost unopposed, after the main opposition outfit was barred on a technicality.