With Funcinpec's party congress just days away, the party is still considering putting forward its ousted leader Prince Norodom Ranariddh, as its candidate for prime minister in 2008, local media reported Tuesday.
Over 2,600 party representatives are set to come to Phnom Penh Thursday for the congress, marking exactly one year since the congress ousted Prince Ranariddh from Funcinpec's presidency, the Cambodia Daily newspaper said.
The party's 13-person permanent committee has been considering since last week to decide on one candidate for the premiership, OkSocheat, an adviser to Funcinpec's current president Keo Puth Rasmey, was quoted as saying.
According to Ok Socheat, Ranariddh is still on Funcinpec's shortlist of candidates, which also includes lawmakers Prince Norodom Sirivudh and Princess Norodom Vacheara, as well as Princess Norodom Arunrasmy, who is ambassador to Malaysia and Keo Puth Rasmey's wife.
The selected candidate will then be voted on by the representatives at Thursday's congress, the newspaper said.
Funcinpec party was established by retired King Norodom Sihanouk in 1981. In the 1990s, it started co-ruling the kingdom together with the Cambodian People's Party.
Earlier this year, Ranariddh, son of Sihanouk, was sentenced to18 months in jail in absentia by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court over corruption charges filed by Funcinpec. Before the verdict was made, the prince left Cambodia and has stayed overseas ever since.
Source:Xinhua
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