Old name, new name ... SAME royal "crap"

Funcinpec and Nationalist Party to merge in 2011 with a new name

The two royalist parties, Funcinpec and the Nationalist Party, plan to hold a joint congress in the beginning of next year to formally merge the two party and take up a new name.

Funcinpec Party president Keo Put Rasmy (pictured) told RFA on Wednesday 1st December that, the newly-merged party will invite Prince Norodom Ranariddh to become its president.

In a press release on 8th November, Prince Ranaridhh said he will not return to politics and will not be a candidate for the party presidency of the newly-merged party. However, in a letter dated 29th November to Mr. Chhim Siekleng, president of the Nationalist Party, Prince Ranariddh said he agreed for the use of his name as the new party name, the Norodom Ranariddh Party, but did not indicate whether he will return to politics or will agree to become the president of the new party or not.