PHNOM PENH —
The new political party for Prince Norodom Ranarridh, once a powerful figure in Cambodian politics, had its official opening to the public Friday.
Some 200 supporters, many of them elderly and from the provinces, came to show their support for the Community of Royalist People’s Party, recently approved by the Ministry of Interior.
Norodom Ranarridh hopes to contest future elections, but political analysts say he has little chance of regaining the popularity he enjoyed in the 1990s, when he was a leading figure and the main rival of Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Cambodian People’s Party.
But for supporters like Sum Srean, 66, the prince is a viable option. He said he likes Norodom Ranarridh because the prince had never caused him “sorrow.”
“As you can see, he never committed anything wrong,” he said. “The prince is loyal only to the nation and has never betrayed the country.”
Norodom Ranariddh said Friday he is working to assembly royal family members to join the party and expects to win in the next election. Then, he said, he will reform the practice of 99-year economic leases for development.
Some 200 supporters, many of them elderly and from the provinces, came to show their support for the Community of Royalist People’s Party, recently approved by the Ministry of Interior.
Norodom Ranarridh hopes to contest future elections, but political analysts say he has little chance of regaining the popularity he enjoyed in the 1990s, when he was a leading figure and the main rival of Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Cambodian People’s Party.
But for supporters like Sum Srean, 66, the prince is a viable option. He said he likes Norodom Ranarridh because the prince had never caused him “sorrow.”
“As you can see, he never committed anything wrong,” he said. “The prince is loyal only to the nation and has never betrayed the country.”
Norodom Ranariddh said Friday he is working to assembly royal family members to join the party and expects to win in the next election. Then, he said, he will reform the practice of 99-year economic leases for development.
