PHNOM PENH: The Constitutional Council decided to reject the lawsuits of the Candlelight Party and the Khmer National Unity Party saying that the lawsuits are against the law.

In a press release issued on May 25, the Constitutional Council rejected the parties’ May 19 complaint, which appealed the NEC's decision to reject their application to run in this year’s general election. The complaint demanded that the NEC accept their registration to enter a list of candidates for the July elections.

The Constitutional Council denied the complaint and did not elaborate on its decision.

President of the Constitutional Council, Im Chhun Lim, held a plenary meeting to review and deliberate on the complaints from the Candlelight Party and the Khmer National Unity Party this morning, May 25, at 9:00am at the Chamkarmon State Palace.

The National Election Committee (NEC) rejected the Candlelight Party’s application twice, citing insufficient paperwork. A new requirement was put into place in March which requires the party’s original registration certificate to enter the elections. The Candlelight Party was only able to submit photocopies.

Candlelight Party senior official Son Chhay, blamed the leadership of the Candlelight Party Committee for not understanding the legal procedures and for the subsequent disarray the party has experienced since the rejection.

The Candlelight Party, along with the Khmer National Unity Party, are the only two applicants barred from participating in the upcoming election.