The Ministry of Interior has approved the formation of the National Heart Party, which plans to run in the commune council and general elections in 2022 and 2023 respectively. Hong Menea
The Ministry of Interior has approved the formation of the National Heart Party, which plans to run in the commune council and general elections in 2022 and 2023 respectively.
“In order to be a legal entity, the National Heart Party must complete the conditions for registration within 180 days with the Interior Ministry,” said a letter signed by interior minister Sar Kheng on June 22.
Ministry secretary of state Bun Honn told The Post on June 22 that the party was only issued a permit to form and was still in the process of registering.
For the party to function in accordance with the law, its founders must first have a name, prepare statutes and other documents, and form a membership in accordance with the requirements of the law on political parties, he said. The party must then register.
“The founder has created the party and given it a name, but it is not operational as the party must first register,” Honn said.
He added that 46 political parties have registered with the ministry.
The Post on June 22 was unable to get further comment from Siem Phluk, founder of the National Heart Party.
Kin Phea, director of the Royal Academy of Cambodia’s International Relations Institute, told The Post on June 22 it is not uncommon for political parties to form before elections.
He said the more parties there are, the more difficult it is for people to choose because of the different policies.
He added that political parties do not have a common policy for the nation to merge under two or three parties.
“When they have a separate policy, they form a separate party. It is normal, and it shows that there is progress in political freedom.
“Sometimes too many political parties provide people with a lot of options, but it is not strong enough to compete with the ruling party,” Phea said.
Former Battambang’s O’Char commune chief Sin Rozeth from the Supreme Court-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party told The Post on June 22 that everyone has the right to form political parties.
She added that if a party is formed but does not act, serve the poor, help the victims of oppression, stop abuse and exploitation by the powerful then it is meaningless and worthless and no citizens will support it.
“On the contrary, if a new party is formed and thinks about the national interest, lives of the people and the workers, not only I but also the people will support and encourage it,” Rozeth said.
