Hun Sen's party has won support because of the country's economic growth Polls have opened in Cambodia's parliamentary election, with Prime Minister Hun Sen's governing party widely expected to win the most seats.His Cambodia People's Party (CPP) faces an opposition led by Sam Rainsy - back from self-imposed exile after a royal pardon in July.
Mr Rainsy himself is not eligible to stand, but his recent return has strengthened the opposition's campaign.
More than nine million people are expected to cast their votes.
Hun Sen, 60, has been Cambodia's prime minister for nearly three decades. He is one of Asia's longest-serving leaders, and has expressed the desire to stay in power for another decade.
The CPP, which enjoys considerable support in the countryside, currently has 90 of the 123 seats in parliament and has been increasing its majority over the years.
This is due in part to Hun Sen being widely credited with achieving economic growth after the devastation caused by the Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s, which was responsible for one of the worst mass killings of the 20th Century.
The opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) - led by Mr Rainsy - is aiming to win seats with the promise of political change.
In 2010 Mr Rainsy, 64, was sentenced in absentia to 11 years in prison, on a series of charges he says were politically motivated.
The opposition is a merger between the Sam Rainsy Party and the Human Rights Party.
Analysts believe that younger voters may possibly help the opposition in the elections.
However, the CNRP faces an uphill battle. Most of the country's media is controlled by the government, and human rights activists have also pointed out that the elections may not end up being free and fair.
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