Sangkum Jatiniyum Front Party's (SJFP) president, Prince Sisowath Thomico reveals plans to invite ousted FUNCINPEC party’s leader, Prince Norodom Ranariddh to join him in leading the royalist party.
Prince Thomico says he has met with the former FUNCINPEC’s president this past Sunday, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to talk about joining the royalist forces.
Prince Thomico says that the former FUNCINPEC’s president is considering the possible collaboration.
Prince Ranariddh has recently submitted an application to the Ministry of Interior, asking permission to form his own political party called, the ‘Prince Norodom Ranariddh’ party.
Ranariddh was ousted by FUNCINPEC extraordinary party congress on October 18th. He claimed that his ousting was illegal, this according to FUNCINPEC bylaw, which states that only the president of the party can call for the extraordinary party congress.
FUNCINPEC’s secretary general, Nhek Bun Chhay disputed the prince's claim, and said that "the party's bylaw allowed one third of the national council members to call for congress."
Meanwhile, Prince Thomico wants the royalists to sever political ties with Prime Minister Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party (CPP), and hopes to strengthen Cambodia’s monarchy with Prince Ranariddh.