The Cambodian People’s Party and Cambodian Youth Party submitted their applications on Monday to the National Election Committee as it started accepting political party and candidate registrations for the upcoming July national election.
Registration will continue until May 14 for the July 29 election, which will be held following the forced dissolution of the Cambodia National Rescue Party and jailing of its president Kem Sokha on treason charges.
Ork Kimhan, deputy chief of cabinet of the CPP's central committee, said he submitted registration documents to the election body for 271 candidates across the country’s 24 provinces and Phnom Penh.
“I chose the first day because we are well prepared and so that we have time to make corrections [to the lists],” he said. He declined to divulge the list of candidates before the NEC approves it.
Cambodian Youth Party President Pich Sros said his party submitted 234 candidates across 17 provinces. The party was only contesting in provinces with three or more seats, he said.
Sros was among those calling for the dissolution of the CNRP last year, after his party and Funcinpec filed complaints with the Ministry of Interior over the opposition’s alleged attempt to start a so-called “colour revolution”.
The Supreme Court took up the complaint in November, dissolving the party and banning 118 of its senior members.
