Cambodia’s political parties on June 27 kicked off a month-long campaign ahead of elections for seats in the fifth National Assembly scheduled for July 28.

The ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) marked the start of the campaign by organising a meeting to celebrate the party’s 62 nd founding anniversary (June 28) on Koh Pich island with the participation of 20,000 party members and supporters.

CPP President and Senate Chea Sim, CPP Vice President and Prime Minister Hun Sen, and CPP Honorary President and National Assembly Chairman Heng Samrin attended the event.

The Party has affirmed its full support for the candidacy of Prime Minister Hun Sen who is standing for re-election.

If the CPP wins the forthcoming parliamentary election, it will establish a coalition government with the royalist FUNCINPEC Party, CPP Vice President and PM Hun Sen has said.

Meanwhile, the Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP), which was formed when the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) and the Human Rights Party (HRP) merged, gathered about 7,000 members and supporters around the city.

Kim Sophea, Secretary of the CNRP’s Executive Committee, said the party targets voters who are intellectuals, students, public servants, workers and small traders.

The same day, FUNCINPEC started their campaign by organising gatherings for its members in the suburbs.

Eight parties are taking part in next month's polls to elect 123 lawmakers to the Lower House of Parliament. The winner will form a new government to run Cambodia for the next five years.

The CPP currently holds 90 seats in the 123-seat National Assembly.-VNA