Nationalist Party plans to change its name back to Norodom Ranariddh Party

Prince Ranariddh spoke to reporters while flanked by loyal officials.

By Khmerization
Source: CEN

A party officials said the Nationalist Party is planning to change its name back to the Norodom Ranariddh Party on 11th December in a party congress to be held at the Tuol Kork Centre.

Mr. Pen Sangha, spokesman for the Nationalist Party, said on 27th November that the planned name change will not affect the future alliance or merger with the Funcinpec Party.

The Norodom Ranariddh Party was formed in 2006 after Prince Norodom Ranariddh was ousted as president of the Funcinpec Party in a party coup led by party Secretary General Nhiek Bunchhay. The party changed its name to the Nationalist Party after the 2008 election after Prince Ranariddh agreed to leave politics in an exchange for his safe return to the country and after he was appointed as privy councillor to the king.

Mr. Pen Sangha said that, in a letter dated 24th November to party president Chhim Siekleng, Prince Ranariddh had agreed for his name to be used as a party name after the Constitutional Council earlier ruled that any parties that change its name will lose all parliamentary seats they have won during the elections. He, however, has not made up his mind whether to return to lead the party as requested by party members. But, the prince had rejected many requests to return to lead both the Funcinpec Party and the Nationalist Party in the past.