Campaign season: SRP seeks Funcinpec, NRP votes

Wednesday, 11 January 2012
Vong Sokheng 
The Phnom Penh Post 

In the fourth day of the Senate campaign, opposition Sam Rainsy Party yesterday called on council members from rival parties to help the SRP gain seats in the upcoming election.

In a statement issued by exiled leader Sam Rainsy, the SRP called on Funcinpec and the NRP to vote for SRP lawmakers in the January 29 election since those parties are fielding no candidates.

“Because Funcinpec and NRP have no candidates standing for Senate election, I believe that you should clearly cast the ballot for the SRP,” Rainsy said in the statement.

“Only the SRP can challenge the ruling CPP in the Senate election.”

Spokesmen for Funcinpec and the NRP said yesterday that each respective party would leave the decision on who to vote for up to the individual council members.

“Our party leaders will give the voters freedom to vote, and individual Funcinpec council members will be free to cast their ballots for any party that they like,” Funcinpec spokesman Tum Sambol said yesterday.

A total of 57 seats are up for grabs in the upcoming Senate election.