The Ministry of Interior on Tuesday gave its approval to Real Camerin to name his new political party the Khmer Conservative Party, after his first proposal, the Khmer Empire Party, was denied last month.

Camerin, a former lawmaker of the Supreme Court-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), is one of nine CNRP officials to be granted a return to politics following his request for political rehabilitation to the King.

The former representative for Svay Rieng province was one of 118 senior CNRP officials banned from all political activity for five years following the dissolution of the party in November 2017.

Despite approving the new party’s name, the Ministry of Interior insisted the party must register in accordance with articles 18, 19 and 20 and section two of Article 9 of the Law on Political Parties before it can become officially active and begin to engage in politics.

The Khmer Conservative Party was the second name Camerin submitted to the Ministry of Interior, after his first choice, the Khmer Empire Party, was denied because it represented a period in Cambodian history.

Real Camerin said the name Khmer Conservative Party would convey adequate meaning to show that the party would represent conservatism and the protection of the Kingdom’s heritage – from Angkor Wat to all aspects of the ancient Khmer empire.

“We will try to conserve and protect all of those things – to protect the nation’s territory, sovereignty and independence and especially to promote conservative values to encourage the advancement and development of our country.

“The name ‘Conservative’ does not imply that we don’t want democracy. Since the beginning, we have had democracy in our country. Whether that means democracy in a true, broad sense or democracy only on paper, we don’t know,” he said.

Real Camerin said he would like to protect and conserve the country, adding that his party’s initial name had too broad a meaning.

“My concept is that I want this country to be highly prosperous, great and significant, like in the empire era. That’s why Khmer Empire Party was my first choice,” he said.