Candlelight Party: Now not the time for alliance talks

THE Candlelight Party (CP) has still not taken any official position on a political alliance with three other parties – Grassroots Democratic (GDP), Khmer Will (KWP) and Cambodian Reform (CRP) – in the lead-up to next year’s national election, representatives said.

The trio planned to form an alliance with CP – which has emerged as the country’s secondlargest party with candidates fielded across the country, winning 22 per cent of the total votes in the June 5 commune council elections – by October this year.

GDP spokesman Lek Sothear said they plan to submit a second letter requesting a face-toface meeting with CP in the near future to discuss the alliance.

“The goal of a political alliance of parties outsides of the government has not yet been officially achieved, although the plan is scheduled to be completed by October,” Sothear told The Post on September 6, noting that KWP and CRP have responded positively to the proposed alliance.

“Overall, we believe they [CP] want to cooperate, but unity under any image will require more talks,” he said.

KWP president Kong Monika told The Post on September 6 that the alliance plan has so far made no progress or positive steps because each party is busy preparing their internal structure.

“Any unification or alliance before the 2023 election may be possible, but it will not be as soon as expected,” he said.

CP vice-chairman Son Chhay told The Post on September 6 that his party had previously received a letter from GDP regarding the proposed alliance and had already responded.

“We are of the view that this is not the time to talk about the alliance because we are focused on organising the party’s internal and organisational structure in an orderly and proper manner,” he said.

“We understand the intentions of the GDP, but need them to understand that we cannot consider it at this time. But once we have completed our restructure, we will discuss among the leadership what our future direction should be and which path we might follow, whether to join with other parties,” he said.

Yang Saing Koma, chairman of the GDP board of directors, said at a weekly meeting on political updates on September 5 that he would continue to facilitate cooperation between parties. The common goal is to build a multi-party liberal democracy because no single party outsides of the government is apparently capable of winning the “50 plus one” majority in the 2023 election.

“The 2023 political alliance will bring the leaders of a multiparty liberal democracy for the common good of the Khmer nation and multi-party liberal power in the legislature,” he said.

GDP has proposed options such as the division of constituencies, constituting under any existing party umbrella or jointly forming a new party composed of the similarly aligned “nongovernmental parties” for the parliamentary election.