Returning to Phnom Penh Saturday after a private trip to the US, Funcinpec President Prince Norodom Ranariddh expressed hope that a new government can be formed within weeks.
Upon his arrival, Prince Ranariddh said he will meet with Prime Minister Hun Sen sometime this week to discuss ending the
10-month long political deadlock.
“I hope that we can form the new government, or at least a new National Assembly, probably in mid-June,” he told reporters at Phnom Penh International Airport. The Assembly held its last working session one year ago.
The prince sounded more optimistic about a quick end to the deadlock than he did only a few weeks ago, when he said he hoped a new government would be formed by September.
On Saturday, Prince Ranariddh praised the negotiations between Funcinpec and the CPP, which for the past two months have been aimed at forming a platform for the coalition government.
While the two sides agree on nearly all of the policy points, several key Funcinpec demands remain unresolved, such as creation of an immigration ministry.
The prince, however, insisted that he and Hun Sen would reach agreement on the remaining points.
He also said that Funcinpec Secretary-General Prince Norodom Sirivudh will go to North Korea on June 18 to inform King Norodom Sihanouk about the progress of the talks.
On Sunday, CPP spokesman Khieu Kanharith welcomed Prince Ranariddh’s comments, saying the royalist president was “the vital key” to resolving the political deadlock.
