BAKDEP – In one of his last moves as Chairman, Kuehongese Senior General Vu Yen Luc has issued an executive order to dissolve the national legislatures alongside remaining state legislatures in the country. This move is widely expected as Vu earlier expressed wishes to hold legislative elections before his departure.

The exact nomination and polling dates will be decided and announced by the Election Commission of Kuehong. While there are no stipulations in the Kuehongese constitution as to when elections must be held, they are normally held within 90 days since the dissolution of the national legislature.

Ahead of the announcement, two state legislatures have already been dissolved, and elections for these are expected to take place along with the other state and national elections. The Vang Ngat State Affairs Assembly was dissolved in March last year by the Vang Ngat High Command over allegations of corruption in the Assembly. Although a State Elections Review Board was established shortly later, Vang Ngat remains under direct rule of the State High Command, as the Board concluded that “conditions were not in place for State Elections”.

Earlier this year, the Loi Xo State Assembly was dissolved when a State of Emergency was announced over the eruption of violence in the region. It remains unclear, with the continuing of violence, that Loi Xo would be able to hold state elections alongside the other states. However, a former State Assembly member has expressed “confidence” that the election would be held once the conflict ends.

The national legislature, while a significant milestone in Kuehong’s political reforms of the 90s, remains largely powerless with the National Security and Stability Council (NSSC) wielding real power over key decisions. The state legislatures, implemented shortly after Kuehong’s transition into a Federal Republic in 2002, remains prone to dissolutions by the central government and remain a symbolic feature. Nevertheless, vying candidates interviewed hoped to bring about any change in the political landscape of the country.