Prince Norodom Chakravuth has pledged to lead the royalist Funcinpec party into a new era of prosperity, as the party convened yesterday to commemorate its 43rd anniversary since establishment by the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk.

Prince Chakravuth, unanimously elected as the new party president during the Extraordinary Congress in February 2022, succeeding his late father Prince Norodom Ranariddh who passed away in 2021, convened the party leadership and senior officials at the party headquarters in Phnom Penh to mark the founding day festivities.

The event included the Buddhist ceremony attended by Supreme Patriarch of the Thammayut order of Cambodia Bour Kry followed by charity events.

Prince Chakravuth made headlines in 2022 after he helmed the party to secure five National Asssemby seats during the National Election and revived the party’s flagging influence after it failed to garner any during the past two previous National Elections.

During the gathering yesterday, the party leadership reminded members of the great achievement of late King Father Sihanouk in founding Funcinpec more than four decades ago.

Party spokesman and lawmaker Nhoeun Raden, who attended the gathering yesterday, said March 21, 1981 was an unforgettable day.

“We, Funcinpec, will always be grateful to Late King Father, the founder of Funcinpec and all the dignitaries, leaders and fighters who sacrificed for the nation, religion, and the King,” he said.

Raden said that during the event Prince Chakravuth committed to follow the late King Father’s footsteps.

“Prince Chakravuth, the successor, is committed to maintaining a united position so that the nation can have peace and the people have better livelihoods and development,” he said.

Funcinpec, short for the French “Front Uni National pour un Cambodge Indépendant, Neutre, Pacifique, et Coopératif” (National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia), is a royalist political party in Cambodia.

It was founded in 1981 by then Prince Norodom Sihanouk, Cambodia’s former king, during the country’s civil war.

Funcinpec played a significant role in Cambodia’s politics during the late 20th century, particularly in the 1990s, when it had won the UN-brokered elections in 1993.

Late Prince Ranariddh, the son of Prince Sihanouk, led the party during that period.

However, the party’s influence had declined since then, facing internal divisions and electoral setbacks.

The party won the first National Election organised by the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) in 1993, winning 58 out of 120 National Asssemby seats.

In 1998, it managed to secure 43 seats in the National Election, 26 in 2003, and only two in 2008. It won no seats during the two previous elections in 2013 and 2018.

However, under the leadership of Prince Chakravuth, the son of late Prince Ranariddh, the party managed to win the five out of 125 National Assembly seats during 2023 National Election.

Despite this, Funcinpec remains one of Cambodia’s prominent political parties, advocating for constitutional monarchy and the preservation of traditional Cambodian values.

Under the leadership of late Prince Ranariddh, Funcinpec experienced both triumphs and challenges.

As one of the co-founders of the party, Ranariddh played a pivotal role in shaping its early trajectory, particularly during Cambodia’s post-conflict transition period.

Funcinpec, under his guidance, participated in the United Nations-led peace process in the early 1990s, culminating in the signing of the Paris Peace Accords in 1991. This landmark agreement paved the way for the restoration of peace and democracy in Cambodia and laid the foundation for Funcinpec’s entry into coalition governance.

Prince Ranariddh’s leadership also saw Funcinpec secure a significant number of seats in the National Assembly and formed a coalition government with the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP).

However, tensions between Funcinpec and the CPP, coupled with internal divisions within Funcinpec itself, strained the coalition partnership and led to periods of political instability.

Despite the challenges, Prince Ranariddh remained a central figure within Funcinpec, advocating for democratic principles, human rights, and socio-economic development.

His legacy continues to influence the party’s vision and mission, serving as a reminder of its contributions to Cambodia’s journey towards peace, stability, and democracy.

Raden yesterday highlighted the main achievements of the party, which was then a resistance movement.

Since its inception in 1981, Funcinpec has achieved several significant milestones. Some of its main achievements included playing a crucial role in the 1991 Paris Peace Accords, which brought an end to the civil war and established a framework for peace and democracy in Cambodia.

Following the Paris Peace Accords, Funcinpec formed a coalition government with the CPP contributing to stability and reconstruction efforts in the country.

Funcinpec’s collaboration with other political parties and the international community facilitated the restoration of the “Kingdom of Cambodia” under a constitutional monarchy, with Norodom Sihanouk as the King.

The party participated in several democratic elections, promoting the development of democratic institutions and processes in Cambodia and while in government, Funcinpec contributed to various social and economic development initiatives aimed at improving the livelihoods of Cambodian citizens.

These achievements underscore Funcinpec’s role in Cambodia’s transition from conflict to peace and its efforts to promote democracy, stability, and development in the country.

Raden yesterday emphasised the party’s vision under Prince Chakravuth’s leadership, saying that the party is hopeful about regaining its former grandeur.

Under the leadership of Prince Chakravuth, Funcinpec has undergone several transformations and initiatives, focusing on modernising its approach and engaging with contemporary political and social issues.

• Tags: Funcinpec, Norodom Chakravuth