The National Election Committee (NEC) is reviewing the application from the Khmer Will Party (KWP) for registration of its candidates to participate in next year’s Senate Election.

NEC spokesman Hang Puthea said yesterday that “The NEC officials have received a request from the KWP for registration of candidates for the upcoming February 2024 Senate Election.”

“We have not yet decided whether to officially recognise the KWP, as we need time to review the documents submitted to the NEC. I think that early next week we will officially inform the KWP about recognition or non-recognition of their party,” he said.

Among its proposed candidates, KWP has listed members of the Candlelight Party (CP) who hope to contest under its banner because the latter is ineligible to take part in the election.

The NEC has no objection to taking refuge under KWP to run in the upcoming election, but the important thing is that both parties must abide by the rules set out in the constitution and the election law, Puthea added.

Kong Monika, President of KWP, said yesterday he is confident the party will be officially registered and recognised by the NEC to take part in the election, because they have prepared the correct documents in accordance with the law.

“We hope that the NEC will officially recognise our party to contest the upcoming Senate Election. It is another new starting point for the party allied with the KWP,” Monika added.
The KWP applied for registration of the party and its list of candidates for the election on Monday.

The KWP, part of a coalition that includes the CP, has compiled a list of candidates which includes Monika and CP members Chep Kim Eang, Sok Hach, Chan Cheng, Seng Mardy, Hong Sok Hour, Kimsour Phirith and Son Chhay.

The CP has chosen to ally with the KWP to run in the Senate Election to be held on February 25, 2024, after it was unable to register to run due to the loss of its original registration documents.

According to the rules and procedures for the election of senators published in 2023 by the NEC, 58 out of 62 senators will be elected by members of the National Assembly and all commune councillors.

In October, the CP formed an alliance with minority parties KWP, Grassroots Democratic Party (GDP) and Cambodia Reform Party (CRP), all of which failed to secure any seats in this year’s National Election.

• Tags: Khmer Will Party, NEC, senate election