Human Rights Party officials including Son Soubert (seated, left), Kem Sokha (centre) and Pen Sovan take part in a vote yesterday. Photograph: Pha Lina/Phnom Penh Post

Human Rights Party President Kem Sokha announced yesterday that he would be officially resigning from his position as party president in order to move into his new role as deputy president of the Cambodian National Rescue Party.

Speaking to about 2,000 members at the party’s annual congress in Tuol Kork, Sokha told participants that though his resignation was a foregone conclusion, he was sad to be leaving the party that he had helped found five years ago.

“I have to decide today to resign as the Human Rights Party president with nostalgia and also happiness, with the aim of fulfilling a historical new mission in the role of deputy president of the Cambodian National Rescue Party,” he said.

Sokha added that while he was leaving his position as president, he could legally remain a lawmaker until the end of his term.

HRP Central Committee Pre­sident Son Soubert will take over Sokha’s vacated position to manage the party’s commune-level seats until 2017, when the vestigial party will be fully integrated into the CNRP and both it and the Sam Rainsy Party will disband.