Phnom Penh – In a move that turns around what he insisted earlier, Prime Minister Hun Sen said today all political party leaders in Cambodia could continue to retain multi-citizenships so that there would be a vibrant election competition in the country.

Addressing thousands of people during the celebration this morning of the 37th Anniversary of Victory over the Khmer Rouge that was toppled on 7 January 1979, the premier said that after serious discussions among the Cambodian People’s Party’s leaders, a decision had been reached that leaders of all political parties are entitled to retain two or more citizenships.

“All political parties [leaders] whether with one or 10 citizenships, please come and do politics altogether,” said the premier. However, without naming whom, he said that Cambodia could not be held hostage by one or two convicted criminals.

At a graduation ceremony late December last year, Prime Minister Hun Sen said he would like to see the Law on Political Parties limiting political party leaders to only a single citizenship.

The decision to allow political party leaders to hold multiple citizenships is meant to provide more overseas Cambodians with more opportunities to participate in political elections in Cambodia, according to the premier who also, at the same time, welcomed all political parties to the upcoming Commune Council Election in 2017 and the National Election the following year.