Cambodian royalist political parties merge for next year's elections

     Prince Ranariddh and Gen. Nhiek Bunchhay toasted after the signing of the merger today.

Phnom Penh (Cambodia), May 24 (Xinhua-ANI): The royalist Funcinpec party and the Norodom Ranariddh party on Thursday signed an agreement to merge as a Funcinpec party to re-unite royalists for the parliamentary elections in July next year.

The agreement was signed between Nhik Bun Chhay, executive president of the Funcinpec party and Prince Norodom Ranariddh, president of Norodom Ranariddh party.

Under the agreement, Prince Norodom Ranariddh will be the president of the merged party and Nhik Bun Chhay will be the vice- president.

The two parties won two seats each in the 123-parliamentary seats in the elections in July 2008.

"The merger is to mobilize royalists, Sihanoukists to be a real national force to work with the national force of the ruling Cambodian People's Party of Prime Minister Hun Sen in order to serve the nation," Prince Norodom Ranariddh told reporters after the signing ceremony.

The Funcinpec party was founded in 1981 by the retired King Norodom Sihanouk. Currently, it is the only coalition party of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP). (Xinhua-ANI)