The head of a local rights group who was once touted as the consensus choice for the revamped National Election Committee’s key ninth member will soon announce whether she will officially withdraw her candidacy.

Pung Chhiv Kek, who also holds French and Canadian citizenship, yesterday said that a team of legal experts were studying two laws passed last week that will govern the next elections, and that she would not officially withdraw until they had “examined” the laws.

A controversial article banning members of the NEC from holding more than one passport seemingly makes it impossible for Chhiv Kek to take the post.

Spokesmen Yem Ponhearith of the Cambodia National Rescue Party and Sok Eysan of the Cambodian People’s Party yesterday confirmed that candidates to fill the eight partisan seats on the NEC will be decided between March 27 and April 6.

Both parties yesterday declined to give names of any of their preferred candidates.

Puthea Hang, executive director of election watchdog the Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia, said if Chhiv Kek stepped down, he would be interested in the job.