Parliament Speaker Reports 122-Day Performance, Passes 14 Bills

At 10:00 a.m. on July 16, 2025, Sophon Saramum, Speaker of the House of Representatives, reported that the legislature has transformed over 122 days, addressing public problems through legislative work. The parliament passed 14 bills during this session—the most in 10 years—through cooperation among all parties. Ministers answered 33 of 36 oral questions raised during the session.

Sophon stated that he requested ministerial cooperation without enforcement, allowing the Cabinet to assign responses as appropriate. He added that the parliament introduced a written inquiry channel to complement verbal questioning, which typically takes about 90 minutes. By allowing constituents to submit written grievances directly, the Speaker can forward them to relevant agencies for resolution, reducing the time spent on oral debates in the chamber.

The Speaker emphasized that the 27th parliament has never collapsed under his tenure—a result of lawmakers' professionalism and disciplined meeting conduct. He addressed criticism over restrictions on video screening and image presentation during debates, noting that editorial oversight has existed across all parliamentary eras and decisions are made by a committee. When asked about activities beyond his formal duties, such as national flag respect ceremonies, aerobic exercises, and religious activities, Sophon defended them as personal development initiatives. He stressed that parliamentary decisions made in the chamber affect citizens, and lawmakers must be mindful of their responsibility. The Speaker also mentioned an upcoming education workshop on August 3 to address drug-related crises and noted efforts to open parliamentary facilities for community use and energy-conservation measures.