Phnom Penh Post
Ho Vann (L) Ke Sovannroth (R). Photograph: Heng Chivoan/Phnom Penh Post
In the latest signs of political maneuvering ahead of July’s national
elections, eight out of 11 opposition party senators are planning on
resigning their posts to run for seats in the National Assembly under
the newly formed Cambodian National Rescue Party banner.
The senators are drawn from the ranks of the Sam Rainsy Party, which
joined opposition forces with the Human Rights Party in July to form the
CNRP. By following through on their plans, they would be the first
elected officials to make the move into the CNRP ahead of the national
elections.
Nuth Romduol, one of the senators whose constituency is in Kampong
Speu province, said he likes his chances of getting elected there as a
National Assembly member.
“There is much support from people to take [me] back there,” Romduol said.
Phnom Penh Senator Ho Vann said he and the other Sam Rainsy Party
senators have to resign before May and put their names in the hat as
parliamentarians. At the same time, they would submit the names of their
replacements to the National Election Committee.
According to Romduol, the names of the other senators are Ke
Sovannroth, Eng Chhay Eang, Men Sothavarin, Tach Setha, Ouch Sereyuth
and Thak Lany.
Though Romduol presented the move as a way of targeting CPP seats in
the upcoming elections, Sam Rainsy Party spokesman Yim Sovann declined
to call it part of an officially planned strategy.
“The spokesman issues official information; if not, it’s not official,” Sovann said.
But Puthea Hang, executive director of the Neutral and Impartial
Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia, said that when
political parties change, it is normal for them to start seeking support
early on.
“The political party that is a competitor always finds a way to
choose important actors so that they can struggle over more seats,” he
said.
National Election Committee Secretary-General Tep Nytha said that if
an opposition party wants to replace any senator, it must send a list of
proposed names to the NEC before the end of April.
To contact the reporter on this story: Meas Sokchea at
sokchea.meas@phnompenhpost.com
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