Cambodian royalist parties to merge ahead of 2013 election

Royalist parties of FUNCINPEC and Nationalist Party with former name as Norodom Ranariddh Party have agreed to establish an alliance to compete in 2013 general election, a party spokesman said Friday.

Peng Senga, spokesman of Nationalist Party said his party has held talks four times since last month with FUNCINPEC party and had agreed to establish an alliance, but more party's structures need further talks.

He said as the last meeting was convened on Wednesday, the two parties agreed to have co-presidents of the so-called "FUNCINPEC- Nationalist Alliance" while the position as secretary-general will need more discussion before final agreement to be made.

However, he said, the format for the secretary-general will be likely called as first and second with consensus voice or just first and second.

FUNCINPEC was originally brainstormed and set up as a front by then prince Norodom Sihanouk in 1986, but in 1992, it was transformed to a political party to challenge with Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party.

FUNCINPEC won general election in 1993, but had lost in the following three consecutive elections in 1998, 2003 and 2008.

Prince Norodom Ranariddh was the top leader since FUNCINPEC party was formed, but he was kicked out from the party in 2006, and the party then split into two: FUNCINPEC and Norodom Ranariddh Party, but now changed to Nationalist Party.

Currently, Cambodian People's Party has 90 seats in 123-seat parliament; Sam Rainsy Party gains 26, Human Rights Party has three, FUNCINPEC gains two and Norodom Ranariddh gains two.

Cambodia holds general election every five years and the next election will be held in 2013.

Source: Xinhua