Chea Mony, the Free Trade Union president who announced in July that he was stepping down from his post, has said the union does not yet have the money available to hold a congress to vote in a new president.

“I can’t say when we will hold the congress to find a new president – if I had the money I would do it tomorrow,” he said. “We need at least $6,000 to spend on our members travelling from the provinces, accommodation, food, and other things.”

Mony blamed the lack of funds on the FTU’s budget, which he said declined by almost a third compared to last year due to factory closures and members’ resignations.

The union leader succeeded the former president, his brother Chea Vichea, after he was assassinated in the capital in 2004.

Mony said yesterday that he had “abused the rules of the presidency” by staying on for 11 years, substantially more than the six years allowed.

In July, Mony said he would join the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party after his tenure ended, but he would remain an FTU adviser.