The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party is slated to hold its biennial party congress on March 26 of next year, according to a statement released yesterday.

The statement said the party will “hold the national council assembly in Phnom Penh on March 26, 2016. [It will] adopt CNRP lawmaker internal regulations . . . and adopt a strategy plan and key activist plans for 2016.”

Yim Sovann, spokesman for CNRP, said that during the meeting, officials would formulate “plans for 2016, including visiting people, strengthening the party’s structure and preparing to participate in the [2017 and 2018] election”.

The lawmaker regulations, he said, are hoped to “increase the effectiveness of the CNRP, especially in making laws [and] checking the government”.

Party president Sam Rainsy, who is currently in self-imposed exile avoiding multiple court cases, “will attend through Skype”, Sovann added. About 1,000 party members are expected to participate.