Recently there is a newly established political party, namely Human Right Party of Kem Sokha who was well-known in his activities to promote and strengthen human rights among Cambodians particularly at local levels. He claimed that his party has around 200,000 supporters throughout the country. Due to the report, the supporters may not from the Cambodian People Party and may from other democrat parties such as Sam Rainsy Party and others.
In last year, there were also a new party established Norodom Ranaridh Party, led by Samdech Krom Preah, the former President of Funcinpec Party now joining in government led by the CPP. This new party, NRP, has a lot of supporters from the Funcinpec which lost of a lot votes during the 1st April 2007 commune council election. Noteworthy is that the Kem Sokha was a former member of Funcinpec Party and Also the Sam Rainsy was also a former of Funcinpec Party.
Also in last year 2006, there were two parties established separated from the SRP. Also Sisowath Thomico, saying itself as democrat and royalist, formed a political party who had no seat in the 2007 commune election.
Since the 1997, there were many political parties formed separating from Funcinpec, Liberal Democratic Party and SRP. The more parties they formed, the less supporters they will gain. Comparing to the previous elections, the CPP get more and more votes and supporters, and in contrast the votes and supporters from the Funcinpec and other political parties seem get less.
While it is seen that those parties were divided, the CPP remains as a united party, no division.
Up today, there are more recently established political parties to prepare for election in 2008. The results of the 2007 commune election is the reflection of election 2008. And if more parties created, the more it benefits the CPP with the current proportionate election systems which usually give much benefits to big party. If the democrats divided, the CPP will get more benefit in the 2008 Representative election.
