Updated 18 July 2013,
Cambodia's opposition leader Sam Rainsy is seeking
legal advice on registering as a last-minute candidate in the upcoming
election.
Mr Rainsy was disqualified as a minister of parliament
in 2011, following his conviction for various offenses which observers
said were politically-motivated.
While Mr Rainsy is preparing to
return home from self-exile in France after receiving a pardon from the
King, his lawyers are studying various legal options through which he
might participate in the national polls.
Cambodian opposition leader and leader of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, Sam Rainsy, has told Radio Australia's Asia Pacific he hopes to run not just for parliament but also for prime minister.
"The upcoming election would be meaningless
if the outgoing prime minister, Mr Hun Sen, is alone to run for
premiership, where there's no other challenge or candidate," Mr Rainsy
said.
"As the leader of the opposition, I am the only real and serious challenger to Mr Hun Sen.
Mr Rainsy says the youth are his main supporters as they realise their future is not with the ruling party.
"A large number of youths are unemployed," he said.
"There is not adequate jobs creation and the ruling party has miserably failed in giving youths decent jobs.
"The youths realise that this country needs a change.
"A
change in leadership, in policy, in order to provide decent jobs to a
growing number of youths who reach the job market every year.
"We
want a more equitable growth and development for the country, while
preserving our natural resources, preserving our social fabric, meaning
preserving our future," Mr Rainsy said.
Mr Rainsy says he hopes to
pay his respects and express gratitude to the King at the royal palace
as soon as he returns to Cambodia.
"Immediately after, I will go
to meet Cambodians, all over Cambodia...visit several provinces a day,
in order to cover virtually the whole country in one week," he said.
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