With parliamentary elections two months away, the National Election Committee (NEC) announced that it had approved in principle five documents on May 4 that – among other things – set out guidelines concerning security, safety, and informational and promotional videos as well as cooperation in these areas.

This, during an NEC meeting led by chairman Prach Chan that reviewed the latest round of revisions, the committee noted in a press release.

The first document covered security, safety and public order cooperation, while the second encompassed informational videos on vote counting and other electoral processes. The third centred on TV and radio broadcasts across the Kingdom.

The fourth involves the formal recognition of the Khmer Conservative Party’s (KCP) eligibility to contest the July 23 elections. The party plans to field candidates in seven constituencies nationwide and its candidate list for the vote has received the in-principle nod.

The fifth document concerns technical work over 2024 for which foreign aid is planned to be requested.

As of May 4, the NEC formally recognises the eligibility and candidate lists of eight political parties, namely the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), the Cambodian Youth Party (CYP), the Khmer National United Party (KNUP), the Dharmacracy Party (DP), the Democracy Power Party (DPP), the Cambodian Nationality Party (CNP), the Khmer United Party (KUP) and the KCP.

The NEC is reviewing the applications of three additional parties: the National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful and Cooperative Cambodia (FUNCINPEC), Beehive Social Democratic Party (BSDP) and Ekpheap Cheat Khmer Party (ECKP).