Sam Rainsy Party deputy president Teav Vannol yesterday declined to say whether he would take leadership of the party in the wake of president Kong Korm’s retirement, though a fellow senator said it was all but a foregone conclusion.

The 75-year-old Korm, SRP president and chairman of the Senate’s commission on human rights, announced his retirement on November 2, citing poor health and old age.

Vannol yesterday denied that he will replace his party president before a meeting of the party’s standing committee.

“We may hold a standing committee meeting next week to discuss a candidate for the presidency and the vacant seat in the Senate. But we . . . need a vote by members,” said Vannol.

SRP Senator Chep Kim Eang, however, said members of the party’s standing committee clearly favour Vannol as new president, while Yim Khunkhoeun, Korm’s second, will become a new member of the Senate.

“Eleven SRP senators support Vannol as party president and the [current president’s] retirement will be by the end of 2015,” said Kim Eang.