Cambodia: CNRP selects leader candidates
Phnom Penh (VNA) – The
Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP),
the opposition party in Cambodia, has selected candidates for its president and
vice president positions after the Central Standing Committee’s meeting.
A senior CNRP
official said acting President Kem Sokha is running unopposed for the position
of president while Pol Ham, Mua Sochua and Eng Chhay Eang are running for vice president.
The CNRP will
hold a congress on March 2 to elect the new party leader after Sam Rainsy
resigned from the post.
Rainsy has been living in exile from
November 2015 to avoid a two-year prison sentence over defaming Deputy PM Hor
Namhong in 2008.
On February 11, Rainsy announced his
decision to resign on his Facebook page, citing personal reasons.
Rainsy’s decision was made after 60 members
of parliament of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party asked the National
Assembly on February 10 to revise the law on mainstream political parties, banning
those with convictions from leading a party.
On February 20, the Cambodian NA passed the
revised law under which people with criminal record will not be able to be party
presidents or vice presidents.
In serious cases, the party can be dissolved
and the party’s board of leaders can be banned from political activities.-VNA