was an underlying reasoning behind the timing of his overseas trip. Around the same time, as the legislative processes was taking place to enact this law, a letter emerged, of which Sihamoni had encouraged for all Cambodians to vote without intimidation ahead of the 2017 communal elections. Similarly, in February 2018, in relation to the Lèse-majesté Law, which too had concerns expressed about it by various observers, speculation was fuelled again, when the King did not directly sign this legislation into law, due to a planned foreign trip. Some analysts maintained that this did not merely occur by chance, though others advised that such assumptions are not grounded in facts, without any confirmation. Regardless, commentators noted that it added to a perception that Sihamoni opts and tends to be overseas, especially when it comes to the signing of highly contentious legislations. Elections 2018 and developments In 2018, after the general election and senate election, which saw the ruling CPP retaining power, winning virtually every seat in both houses of parliament, much to the consternation of members of the now-dissolved opposition, international observers and human rights groups, whom all voiced unease about the deteriorating state of political affairs in the country, not least, the lack of a viable opposition, Sihamoni convened the opening of the national legislature. He had urged parliamentarians in both the National Assembly and Senate to protect the rights of all Cambodians and seek ways to bring about national unity and in bettering the lives of the overall populace, whilst highlighting the nation's long path towards peace and development. Several Western countries boycotted the opening, but the King noted in his speech that the opening of parliament was nonetheless constitutionally mandated. In recent years, again at the request of the government, he has approved political clemency requests for several former members of the dissolved CNRP to participate in politics again, like for example in 2020, with respect to former chief whip Son Chhay and in 2021, with Pol Ham, who was a deputy party president. Both Chhay and Ham were amongst at least 32 former CNRP political figures, as of February 2022, that the King has politically rehabilitated. Sihamoni, also had granted a royal pardon for Rainsy’s deputy and later successor, Kem Sokha who had defamation charges against him stemming from an alleged adultery, though his separate treason charge still remains. Aside from the CNRP related cases aforementioned,