High-ranking FUNCINPEC party officials said Tuesday that the royalist party plans to reduce the number of under secretaries, executive commissions, national council members, to a bare minimum, as part of a structural reform of the party to secure victory in the coming election.
The Funcinpec officials say the party will also downsize the government's officials, some ministers, secretaries, province governors, deputy province governorsetc.The plan will be announced at the party's extraordinary session on November 14-15. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen is expected to be present and will give a speech along with FUNCINPEC President Norodom Ranariddh.
Mr. Nhek Bun Chhay, co-minister of Defense and under general secretary of the Funcinpec party said that important strategies will be implemented during the two-day session.
FUNCINPEC has been criticized in the past for adding too many high-ranking officials in the national and provincial government.
The Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) general secretary Eng Chhay Eang said what FUNCINPEC is doing is not real reforms. He also said FUNCINPEC so-called reforms do not worry the opposition party because the royalist party is losing popularity and support every election since 1998. He said the real competition for SRP is the Cambodia People's Party (CPP).