Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Parties’ funding plans differ

Parties’ funding plans differ

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
People search for their names on recently updated voter lists in Phnom Penh’s Tonle Bassac commune in January. Pha Lina

Parties’ funding plans differ

The two main political parties contesting the upcoming commune elections revealed disparate campaign budget plans yesterday, with the opposition pledging to spend over $1 million and a spokesman for the ruling CPP saying his party will not be creating a central campaigning budget at all.

Cambodian People’s Party spokesman Sok Eysan said candidates will mostly be expected to fund their own campaigns.

“The party does not have a division of the budget to fund commune campaigns throughout the country. In the event that any commune does not have enough, they can make a request to the party,” he said.

“We have a lot of working groups. In each commune there are 10 to 20 people, so it is not difficult to find money and enforce the culture of sharing,” Eysan said, adding that large funds are unnecessary because of the short campaign period.

The official campaign period for the June 4 elections will last only from May 20 to June 2.

Eng Chhay Eang, deputy president of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, said that they will have a central budget of just north of $1 million, raised from foreign and domestic donors.

Chhay Eang also claimed that CPP’s informal approach to funding wasn’t transparent, and could potentially allow them to use government cash.

“It is not transparent in our country. So there is still injustice relating to the unequal use of resources,” Chhay Eang said.

National Election Committee spokesman Hang Puthea similarly warned against the possibility of using government funds.

“If they use personal money to help the party it is their right. But if they dare to take funds from the state budget, it is wrong,” Puthea said, adding that there would be legal ramifications.

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.