PHNOM PENH: FUNCINPEC has decided to postpone its congress to early February, as the party states that the current acting chairman and party members are busy with other activities at the grassroots level.

The FUNCINPEC party had previously planned in December to hold a congress at the end of January to elect a new party chairman. Spokesman for the party, Nheun Raden, told EAC News that the delay has caused no problems. He also confirmed that the party has agreed to organize the leadership in accordance with the statutes already in place, and party members are just waiting for the day of the congress.

He said, “It's okay! Not in a hurry because in the party's statute, it leaves up to 90 days for the party to elect a new president."

He continued that the congress is now scheduled to be held in early February, where in addition to deciding on the election of Prince Norodom Chakravuth as party president, the congress will also set goals to organize the Commune / District Council elections and the 2022 national elections, as well as setting policies for the competition.

Former FUNCINPEC President Norodom Ranariddh died at the age of 77 in France on 28 November 2021. After his death, FUNCINPEC officially announced its preparations for a new congress, amid controversy between dissidents and supporters.

On 20 January, the Minister of Interior, Sar Kheng, asked Prince Norodom Chakravuth to mediate within the party before holding a congress to select the new party leader.