After the end of the 2022 commune election, a viral claim on social media said Sok Sreynoun – a candidate of the Candlelight Party (CLP) in Tboung Khmoum province – had been elected as the new leader of Preah Theath commune. The claim had been widely shared, and many Khmer-speaking social media users had said ‘congratulation’ on her victory. However, our investigation found out the claim is false.
Social Media Claim
Just a day after the 2022 commune election, a claim on social media said a candidate of Cambodia’s opposition Candlelight Party was elected to be the new leader of the Preah Theat commune, one of the communes in Tboung Khmoum province.
The claim has been widely shared on social media, and some Facebook users expressed their reactions and comments ‘congratulation’ on the victory.
Below is the capture of the social media claim that said “Chief of Preah Theat commune” and “my congratulation to sister for being elected the commune chief in O’Rain Ov district (Tboung Khmoum province). This is a stronghold to fight.”
Below is the capture of another social media claim that said “Commune Chief from the Candlelight 2022 for Preah Theat commune, O’Raing Ov district, Tboung Khmoum province. Wish you success for all tasks you do for the country.”
The same claim can be seen on social media through links here (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
Fact Check
Fact Crescendo Cambodia began an investigation into the claim by reviewing the preliminary result of the 2022 commune election in the Preah Theat commune, and an interview with CLP’s candidate. Then, we find out the truth as follows.
The preliminary result of the local election can be accessed through the web portal of the National Election Committee. Based on the preliminary result, we found the CLP won 1,182 votes in the Preah Theat commune while the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) got 4,608 votes.
The result means a candidate from the CPP will leads the commune as candidates from CLP will become the members of the commune council.
Sok Sreynoun was chosen by the CLP to be the leading figure of 22 candidates running for the 2022 commune election in the Preah Theat commune, according to a list of candidates of political parties registered at the electoral body.
In an interview with Fact Crescendo Cambodia, Ms. Sreynoun, 35, said she acknowledged the result of the election in her commune and that the CLP could get just two seats in the council of the commune.
Ms. Sreynoun added she could be the second deputy chief of the commune while the commune chief and the first deputy chief would be in hand of the CPP.
Ms. Sreynoun also dismissed the claim on social media, saying she had already made a clarification on her Facebook account.
In her Facebook account, we found her post published on Sunday night, acknowledging she could be elected as a member of the commune council after the preliminary result was announced.
Please see the capture of her Facebook post below. The post came just several hours after the preliminary result of the election in her commune was completely counted.
Conclusion
Fact Crescendo Cambodia the claim mentioned above is false. Sok Sreynoun – the leading figure of candidates from CLP – was not elected to be new leader of the Preah Theat commune. She was elected into the commune council for the five-year term after CLP won the second majority of the vote in the commune in the local election this year. A leading figure of CPP’s candidates will become the leader of the commune after the party won the majority.
