PHNOM PENH: FUNCINPEC is planning to hold a party congress in January to elect a new chairman, in line with the party's bylaws submitted to the Ministry of Interior.
FUNCINPEC party spokesman Nhoeun Raden has told EAC News that the only candidate is Prince Norodom Chakravuth and he would be elected by the congress. He has added that the selection of Prince Norodom Chakravuth as the party president is also in line with the royal wisdom of his father Prince Ranariddh when he was still alive.
He says, "We know that before the Prince Norodom Ranariddh’s death, the prince transferred the authority to the prince Chakravuth as an acting chairman. And we do this in accordance with the wisdom of Samdech Krom Preah.”
Prince Norodom Chakravuth is the eldest son of Prince Norodom Ranariddh. He was appointed acting president of FUNCINPEC on August 8, 2018, while Prince Norodom Ranariddh was receiving medical treatment abroad.
Vice-president of the Khmer United National Party Oum Somontha has also told EAC News that his party still intends to unite with FUNCINPEC, but he does not seem to believe it can be united if Prince Norodom Chakravuth is elected as party chairman.
He says, "If the congress and the prince are elected to be the president. "Khmer national unity seems difficult to join because of his tough thoughts."
Executive Director of NECFIC Sam Kuntheamy has said the party does not seem to be strong yet. He says, "Prince Norodom Chakravuth can have many challenges, both within the party and with other parties, as well as in the community. Therefore, the re-emergence of the party popularity is not yet clear."
Political analyst Dr. Seng Sary has spoken to EAC News saying that the congress to elect a new party president could not restore the party's popularity due to divisions and declining popularity among the people. However, he has said that the party can regain its popularity through the help on suffering, social problems and the well-being of the people.
He says, "Begin to be active in politics, start to think about the people, contribute to solving people's problems as a royal party/ I think little by little he (Prince Chakravuth) will rebuild his reputation. Even though this party's reputation has become a thing of the past, people are still looking at him. People still want to see the Royalist Party continue to be present in Cambodian politics."
FUNCINPEC is rooted in the struggles of Prince Norodom Sihanouk after the fall of Democratic Kampuchea. Following the Paris Agreement of October 23, 1991, the party, under the leadership of Norodom Ranariddh, participated in the 1993 election with 58 of the 120 seats.
However, the party's internal conflicts weakened the party to the point of losing seats - won 43 seats in the 1998 election, won 26 seats in the 2003 election and 2 seats in 2008, then in the last election in 2013 and 2018 did not win any seats.
