Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Candlelight Party register ahead of deadline

Candlelight Party register ahead of deadline

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Candlelight Party (CP) officials submit registration forms for the party and candidates to the National Election Committee on May 7. NEC

Candlelight Party register ahead of deadline

With parliamentary elections scheduled for July 23, the Candlelight Party (CP), one of the largest opposition parties, has finally applied to register itself and its candidates with the National Election Committee (NEC).

The application came just one day before the deadline for the registration process, which ran from April 28 to May 8.

The Ministry of Interior announced that it had recognised the party and registered it –in line with law on political parties – on May 6. Teav Vannol was listed as president of the party.

Addressing the media on May 7 shortly after submitting the application with the NEC, CP spokesman Kim Sour Phirith said his party would field candidates in the capital and 24 provinces for the coming parliamentary elections. There are 125 first-line candidates and 125 reserves for the lawmaker seats.

He added that NEC had issued a receipt for the registration application, and the CP would now wait to see if the NEC required any further details or adjustments to the application.

“We will abide by any of the NEC’s requests, accordingly,” he said.

“However, if we experience untoward pressure or persecution from now until election day, we will consider whether we will participate or not,” he added.

NEC spokesman Hang Puthea told The Post on May 7 that having received the application of the party, NEC would review its documents. If there any points that needed addressing, the NEC would give the applicants five days to do so. If there are no issues with the application, the NEC will notify the CP that it has recognised and registered the party.

As of May 6, 14 political parties had applied to NEC for registration, eight of which have been formally recognised. Six are still undergoing the examination process.

An NEC press statement announced that that they will convene a meeting with the relevant parties on May 9 to update the present status of the registration of political parties and candidates. The meeting will also touch on the registration of international and national observers, and the rules and procedures for said observers.

While many parties had registered to contest in the election, the Cambodian Reform Party, co-led by Pol Ham and Ou Chanrath, both former lawmakers with the defunct Cambodia National Rescue Party, announced that it will not contest the coming election.

“The situation does not permit us to fully compete in the election,” they claimed, in a recent joint press statement.

MOST VIEWED

  • 12th Cambodia int’l film festival to see return of Hollywood star

    Phnom Penh is set to come alive with the magic of cinema as the highly anticipated 12th Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF) takes centre stage. Boasting an impressive line-up of 188 films from 23 countries, including captivating shorts, feature films, documentaries and animation, the festival promises an

  • Bareknuckle champion wants Kun Khmer fighter

    Dave Leduc, who is the current openweight Lethwei boxing champion in Myanmar, has announced that he will travel to Cambodia this year to challenge SEA Games gold medallist Prum Samnang any time that is convenient, after their planned match later this month in Slovakia was

  • Struggling Battambang artist dreams of staging full-scale gallery exhibition

    Leav Kimchhoth, a 55-year-old artist from Battambang province, is a familiar face to locals and tourists alike on the streets of the riverside in Phnom Penh. The one-armed painter and illustrator often hawks his work near the night market on weekends and public holidays. He

  • Five-year-old Hanuman dances his way into hearts of Cambodia

    A young talent from a new-established settlement has emerged, captivating the online world with his mesmerising performances of the traditional Cambodian monkey dance. Roeun Kakada is a five-year-old prodigy who has taken the social media sphere by storm with his exceptional dance skills and dedication

  • Fresh Covid warnings as Thai hospital fills

    A senior health official reminds the public to remain vigilant, as neighbouring countries experience an increase in Covid-19 cases, with the latest surge appearing to be a result of the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant. Or Vandine, secretary of state and spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health,

  • New Law on Taxation comes into effect

    Cambodia has enacted the eagerly-awaited new Law on Taxation, which aims to improve the national tax regime’s compliance with present and future international standards and economic conditions; encourage accountability, effectiveness and transparency in the collection process; and promote investment in the Kingdom. King Norodom