Cambodia's Prince Considers Re-entering into Politics

Cambodia's Prince Norodom Ranariddh said Monday he is considering re-entering politics in order to reunite all forces, in particular, the royalists who have been split apart.

Prince Ranariddh is now a president of the supreme advisory council to the Royal Palace.

The prince announced in October 2008 his complete resignation from politics after his Norodom Ranariddh Party won only two seats in Lower House in general election in July 2008.

The Lower House is seated by 123 members of parliament from the ruling Cambodian People's Party of Prime Minister Hun Sen, opposition Sam Rainsy Party, Human Rights Party, FUNCINPEC Party, and Norodom Ranariddh Party.

The Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) was established in 2007 after the prince was toppled from the president of the royalist FUNCINEC Party in 2006.

However, NRP was later changed to Nationalist Party led by Chhim Seakleng, his former colleague.

But on Monday, Chhim Seak Leng said the party's members wanted to see Prince Ranariddh return to politics and lead the party.

The prince said he would love to see the Nationalist Party changed to its former name as Norodom Ranariddh Party by December this year.

Prince Ranariddh is the son of former King Norodom Sihahouk and is the elder brother of the present King Norodom Sihamoni. He had been the first prime minister in 1993 and the president of the National Assembly in 1998.