The royalist Funcinpec Party on Wednesday unanimously elected Prince Norodom Chakravuth, the eldest son of the late Prince Norodom Ranariddh, as the party’s new president after months of internal conflict.
The party’s congress also appointed three new vice presidents — Chheng Chamroeun, Pov Eng Kry, and Por Bunsreu — while the majority of the party’s senior officials were appointed as advisors.
The party’s extraordinary congress, which was attended by about 500 members from the capital, provincial, and district-level on February 9, also established a supreme council for consultation that will advise the president on the party’s vision and policies.
Speaking to the congress, Prince Chakravuth pledged to lead Funcinpec to regain its popularity as they prepare for the upcoming commune election.
“In the name of the party’s president, I would like to announce before the congress that I am here to protect Funcinpec to be alive forever, by following my grandfather’s and my father’s spirit to the national unity policy and the national conciliation,” he said. “I pledge to mobilize all former royalists who have royalty with the late King to come together in order for the party to regain its success.”
In recent years Funcinpec, long weakened, has struggled with internal conflicts, particularly as Prince Ranariddh’s health declined in the wake of a 2018 traffic accident. The controversy over the party’s presidential candidacy escalated after his death in late 2021, with supporters of Princess Norodom Arunrasmy, who is also the aunt of Prince Chakravuth, vying with Chakravuth’s followers.
On February 4, Princess Arunrasmy’s cabinet office announced she decided to withdraw from the party, stating that she would no longer be involved or have any role in the party.
The party announced an open door for reconciliation among royalists and Prince Chakravuth announced some internal reforms to enhance the party’s prestige, and bring internal reunification.
Shortly before his death, Prince Ranariddh discussed a merger between Funcinpec and the Khmer National United Party (KNUP), led by Nhek Bun Chhay, a former Funcinpec party senior officer. In September 2021 the two agreed to merge their parties before the 2022 commune election.
Funcipec’s new spokesperson Nhoeurn Raden said that the idea of a merger between the two parties remains open, and they are just waiting for the right time.
“Funcinpec is open to all parties joining, not just the KNUP, and this unification will make the party successful again,” he said.
Once the most powerful party in the country, Funcinpec won the national election in 1993 — only to be pressured into a power-sharing agreement with the CPP. In 1997, fighting broke out between forces loyal to the CPP and those loyal to Funcinpec, resulting in Prince Ranariddh’s overthrow and the rapid weakening of Funcinpec.
In 1998, Funcinpec won 43 seats in the national election, then 26 in 2003 and only two in 2008. It won no seats in the 2013 and 2018 national elections.
Meas Own, the party’s district council in Prey Veng province, has been supporting the party since 1993. The 68-year-old said he is optimistic that the party will be able to gain some seats in the upcoming commune election.
“I believe we will gain support, and we have hope to do so,” he said. “I love Funcinpec, and I will continue to support it until the party’s end,” he said.
Suon Pov, 60, the party’s deputy executive to Tbong Khmum province said he believes that under the leadership of Prince Chakravuth, the party will regain its popularity.
“He will lead the party towards peace and success,” he said. “We hope to win some seats in the commune election because people now have more information about the policies of all the other parties.”
Cambodia will hold the commune election in June 2022 and the general election in 2023. Since the CNRP, the country’s main opposition party, was dissolved in 2017, observers say the competition will be little more than a game with no viable challengers to the CPP.
About 50 political parties are preparing to compete in the upcoming commune and national elections.
Analyst Meas Nee noted that many of Funcinpec’s top leaders, who represented critical human resources, were killed or destroyed in 1997, while subsequent scandals among leaders resulted in lost support and a weaker party.
However, Nee said he was optimistic about a younger, better educated generation that was replacing the party’s old guard.
“We also wait to see if there is any difference from old leaders and this will bring the country to be reformed, and lead to democracy and human rights being better respected,” he said.
