PHNOM PENH: A spokesman for FUNCINPEC Party has rejected the content in a press release issued on 17 January 2022, claiming that party members decided to designate Princess Norodom Arunrasmy , the youngest daughter of His Majesty King , the late Father Norodom Sihanouk as the party's president, claiming it as fake news. Because it is just a document created by a group of former party members using fake stamps.
Speaking to EAC News today, FUNCINPEC spokesman Nhoeun Raden has confirmed that Prince Norodom Chakravuth, the eldest son of Norodom Ranariddh, is still the party's acting president.
He has claimed that according to the law, 90 days after the death of Norodom Ranariddh, party members can only elect a new party president, so FUNCINPEC plans to hold a party congress in late January 2022 to hand over the throne to the Party President Prince Chakravuth officially.
In addition, in order to compete in the 5th Commune / District Council Election 2022 and the upcoming 2023 General Election, the current Party President is also very busy with activities in the provinces to strengthen the solidarity of local members.
Mr. Nhoeun Raden has said: "We already have a plan, because some procedures have already prepared, as well as the drafting of statutes, policies, as well as some strategies, because in this Congress, we focus on some important issues. The first is related to the party's policy, the second is to nominate Prince Chakravuth as the president, and the third is still the preparation of some statutes. But we do not exceed the time limit of the law governing political parties."
The FUNCINPEC party spokesman has further claimed that in the case of forgery of the statement by some individuals who lost their rights from the party on 17 January 2022, the FUNCINPEC legal team is studying the procedure to add to the old lawsuit that has already been filed in court in the past.
Mr. Raden has added: "Yes, that stamp used on the press release on 17 January 2022 was just created because the seal that has left from Samdech Krom Preah have the letter of the president in it and the stamp he used on Monday, his group just created by their desire, it is illegal. There are only two seals that we have kept at the Ministry of Interior: the seal of Samdech Krom Preah and the seal of the General Secretariat.”
Prince Norodom Ranariddh, Chairman of the Supreme Council of the King and President of FUNCINPEC Party, has passed away on 28 November 2021 in France at the age of 77 because of illness.
Prince Norodom Chakravuth, the eldest son of Prince Norodom Ranariddh and Princess Norodom Marie, was appointed Acting President of FUNCINPEC on 8 August 2018.
According to Article 18, the new Law on Amendments to the Law on Political Parties allows political parties to take steps to replace a party president who has lost his or her position within 90 days of the date of his or her resignation. Separately, Article 24, paragraph 3, of the FUNCINPEC Party's Articles of Association states that "In the case of the President, the Board of Directors must convene a congress to elect the party president within 60 days at the latest."
