Funcinpec and Sam Rainsy Party officials said Thursday they are one step closer to beginning negotiations with the CPP for a three-party government, as the two parties finalize the leadership of their newly formed alliance.
Sam Rainsy Party parliamentarian Son Chhay said the formal endorsement of the Alliance of Democrats leadership, expected today, would give the two parties more bargaining power when they meet with the CPP, adding that official negotiations should begin soon.
“Come the end of the day, CPP has no other choice but to have open dialogue with us… I think the CPP has to hurry up before the end of this month,” Son Chhay said.
Funcinpec Deputy Secretary-General Ok Socheat said the Alliance could announce it is ready to bargain with the CPP as early as today.
CPP spokesman Khieu Kanharith said his party was prepared to begin negotiations with the Alliance. He declined to say what the CPP’s demands would be.
Alliance officials, however, remain adamant that they will not join a new government led by CPP Prime Minister Hun Sen and will continue to reject the results of the July 27 general election.
Khieu Kanharith, however, said the demand to replace Hun Sen was unrealistic.
“Don’t dream about asking the prime minister to step down,” he said.
Having won 73 of the 123 National Assembly seats, the CPP will not be able to create a new government without forming a coalition.
Funcinpec spokesman Kassie Neou said the Alliance would negotiate for at least 50 percent of the positions in the new government, which would be shared among Sam Rainsy Party and Funcinpec members.
He said the Alliance was willing to wait “as long as it takes” for the CPP to meet its demands, adding that, in a prolonged stalemate, the current CPP-led government would not have Constitutional power to make subdecrees or contracts.
“If that’s the case, they will run a government without legitimacy,” he said.
Son Chhay said Thursday that he had urged two European foreign diplomats to encourage King Norodom Sihanouk to intervene and set up a meeting with Funcinpec President Prince Norodom Ranariddh, opposition leader Sam Rainsy and CPP President Chea Sim.
Kassie Neou said Funcinpec would not appeal for intervention from the King but that it would not object to it.
Prince Ranariddh and Sam Rainsy are expected to sign an agreement this morning endorsing the executive council of the Alliance. It will name the prince as president, while Sam Rainsy and Funcinpec Secretary-General Prince Norodom Sirivudh would share the vice presidency.
Meanwhile, Funcinpec officials are preparing to present their complaints against the National Election Committee to the Constitutional Council next week, claiming the committee did not uphold their responsibility to be unbiased.
Kassie Neou, however, said he did not believe the complaints would receive a fair hearing.
“It may end up being kicked out in the first second,” he said.
