They include theruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), the main opposition Candlelight Party(CP), royalist Funcinpec and the pro-royalist Khmer National United Party(KNUP) which have been actively promoting their policies ahead of the election.
While NationalElection Committee (NEC) officials expect that at least 20 political partieswill register their candidates for the election, minor parties have carried outminimal activities both at the national and grassroots levels and have yet toannounce their participation.
The CPP has unveiled its manifesto,consisting of pushing for pay rises for civil servants, adjustment and increaseof pensions, increase in the minimum wage for workers and striving to addressthe various needs of the people. These needs include jobs, agricultural marketing, stableprices of essential goods, health care, water supply, electricity, and also theconstruction of rural roads and canals.
During the recentExtraordinary Congress at its headquarters in Phnom Penh, the CPP approved itsstrategic goals and major policies for the next five years (2023-2028).
CPP spokesman SokEysan said he was confident that his party will win big in the nationalelection, citing the CPP’s achievements over the past four decades.
Lee Sothearayuth, theSecretary-General of the CP, said on February 6 that his party will conduct acongress on February 11 in Siem Reap province’s Prasat Bakong district toofficially approve the party's manifesto and strategies for the national election.
CP spokesman Kimsour Phirith has explainedthat his party’s plan is to register its lawmaker candidates and reservecandidates in Phnom Penh and all 24 other provinces to contest for a total of125 National Assembly seats.
KNUP on February 5 released an eight-pointmanifesto, consisting of education, public health, labour, social affairs,agriculture, justice, security and rural development. KNUP, which recently merged with theopposition Kampucheaniyum Party (KP), has promised to strengthen social justice,a good quality education system, a 25 USD monthly allowance for the elderly,and increasing the budget for commune development.
Funcinpec President Prince NorodomChakravuth has been seen busily visiting the provinces to gather support fromthe people.
NEC has set April 24 to May 8 for political parties toregister for and submit their candidate lists for the election. According toNEC Chairman Prach Chan, all political parties that have been properlyregistered with the Ministry of Interior and intend to contest in the 7th national election, which will be held on July 23, must prepare the necessarydocuments and meet NEC requirements on time./.