In the aftermath of the coup of state in Phnom Penh on 5-6 July 1997, the scheduled commune elections were abruptly postponed. Since the country was anticipated to hold its first self-organized national election, COMFREL put a lot of efforts to lobbying the National Assembly for amendments to the draft election law, to replace the previous law introduced by UNTAC, whereby the National Election Committee should be accountable before the Assembly. COMFREL deployed 6,000 domestic observers covering about 50 % of the nation's polling stations. Despite numerous problems, the national election on 26 July 1998 saw considerable improvement in the atmosphere for democracy, for a good turnout in voter registration, a relatively violence-free campaigns and a positive atmosphere on the election day. On 30 November 1998, a plenary session of the National Assembly was held to vote in confidence on the new coalition government.

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