Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Candlelight Party register ahead of deadline

Candlelight Party register ahead of deadline

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Candlelight Party (CP) officials submit registration forms for the party and candidates to the National Election Committee on May 7. NEC

Candlelight Party register ahead of deadline

With parliamentary elections scheduled for July 23, the Candlelight Party (CP), one of the largest opposition parties, has finally applied to register itself and its candidates with the National Election Committee (NEC).

The application came just one day before the deadline for the registration process, which ran from April 28 to May 8.

The Ministry of Interior announced that it had recognised the party and registered it –in line with law on political parties – on May 6. Teav Vannol was listed as president of the party.

Addressing the media on May 7 shortly after submitting the application with the NEC, CP spokesman Kim Sour Phirith said his party would field candidates in the capital and 24 provinces for the coming parliamentary elections. There are 125 first-line candidates and 125 reserves for the lawmaker seats.

He added that NEC had issued a receipt for the registration application, and the CP would now wait to see if the NEC required any further details or adjustments to the application.

“We will abide by any of the NEC’s requests, accordingly,” he said.

“However, if we experience untoward pressure or persecution from now until election day, we will consider whether we will participate or not,” he added.

NEC spokesman Hang Puthea told The Post on May 7 that having received the application of the party, NEC would review its documents. If there any points that needed addressing, the NEC would give the applicants five days to do so. If there are no issues with the application, the NEC will notify the CP that it has recognised and registered the party.

As of May 6, 14 political parties had applied to NEC for registration, eight of which have been formally recognised. Six are still undergoing the examination process.

An NEC press statement announced that that they will convene a meeting with the relevant parties on May 9 to update the present status of the registration of political parties and candidates. The meeting will also touch on the registration of international and national observers, and the rules and procedures for said observers.

While many parties had registered to contest in the election, the Cambodian Reform Party, co-led by Pol Ham and Ou Chanrath, both former lawmakers with the defunct Cambodia National Rescue Party, announced that it will not contest the coming election.

“The situation does not permit us to fully compete in the election,” they claimed, in a recent joint press statement.

MOST VIEWED

  • Joy as Koh Ker Temple registered by UNESCO

    Cambodia's Koh Ker Temple archaeological site has been officially added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, during the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 17. The ancient temple, also known as Lingapura or Chok Gargyar, is located in

  • Ream base allegations must end, urges official

    A senior government official urges an end to the allegations and suspicions surrounding the development of Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, now that Prime Minister Hun Manet has addressed the issue on the floor of the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78). Jean-Francois Tain, a geopolitical

  • Cambodia set to celebrate Koh Ker UNESCO listing

    To celebrate the inscription of the Koh Ker archaeological site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Ministry of Cults and Religion has appealed to pagodas and places of worship to celebrate the achievement by ringing bells, shaking rattles and banging gongs on September 20. Venerable

  • CP denied registration documents by ministry

    The Ministry of Interior will not reissue registration documents to the Candlelight Party (CP). Following a September 21 meeting between ministry secretary of state Bun Honn and CP representatives, the ministry cited the fact that there is no relevant law which would authorise it to do

  • Cambodian diaspora laud Manet’s UN Assembly visit

    Members of the Cambodian diaspora are rallying in support of Prime Minister Hun Manet’s forthcoming visit to the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78) in the US’ New York City this week. Their move is an apparent response to a recent call by self-exiled former

  • After three deferrals, Capital Gains Tax to take effect Jan 1, 2024

    The General Department of Taxation (GDT) will implement the Capital Gains Tax starting January 1, 2024 to after being deferred three times as industrial players warn that the implementation might have some negative impact on the property market growth, which is down due to the economic downturn.