There was neither a "genuine" election campaign "nor an" inclusive political process. "The European Union denied its credibility to the Cambodian elections, saying Sunday's vote was" not representative of the democratic will of the Cambodian electorate, "a spokeswoman said EU External Representative Federica Mogherini.
The EU had refused to send observers to the polls after Hun Sen, the 33-year-old Prime Minister, had dissolved the largest opposition party last year.
Hun Sens Cambodia People's Party (CPP) said it won "all seats" in the election. Politicians from 19 small or hitherto little-known parties competed against the CPP candidates.
Important opposition leaders in prison
The National Rescue Party of Cambodia (CNRP) had been banned on the pretext that it had planned to overthrow the government along with the US and other international organizations. Major opposition leaders in Cambodia are in prison, underground or in exile. In the run-up to the election, the opposition had therefore called for a boycott.
On the morning after the vote, CNRP vice leader Mu Sochua said that Cambodia is now a "complete dictatorship". The election marks the "death of democracy" in the country. CNRP leader and opposition leader Kem Sokha was also charged with high treason before the election and prosecuted the election in prison.
Even before the criticism by the EU, the US had expressed concerns about the election. The vote was "neither free nor fair". The US would consider a "significant expansion" of entry restrictions for high-ranking Cambodian officials, it said. Initial restrictions on the issuance of visas were imposed last year.