The Beehive Social Democratic Party will convene next week to pick its third president in four months after party leader Houn Phannary resigned due to “personal reasons”.

Phannary announced her resignation in a November 22 letter that was received by the party today. She had replaced party founder Mam Sonando in August after the popular broadcaster stepped down due to the party's lacklustre performance in June’s commune elections.

Phannary could not be reached, but BSDP spokesman Lay Narin today said she suffered from a heart condition that often left her feeling weak and dizzy, and she would be seeking treatment in the United States for several months.

The party will convene on Sunday at Sonando’s house to select a new leader, he added.

“Our team is listing two candidates for the election at the approaching assembly to continue leading the party. We also do not have a party deputy director since Chab Sameoun, the party deputy director, went to France for medical treatment as well,” Narin said.

Mam Sonando – who headed a popular political engagement group for years – created the BSDP in 2013 in order to contest the upcoming 2018 national elections. However, the tiny party managed to win just one commune councillor seat in June’s local poll.