With the elections fast approaching, VOD is releasing a series of video interviews with senior members of small parties contesting to unseat the CPP, which holds a dominant position in the county’s 1,652 communes. These videos will give the parties a chance to speak to prospective voters and announce their policies and aspirations for the upcoming election.

Kampucheaniyum Party is the latest entrant in a growing group of political parties born out of the defunct Cambodia National Rescue Party. They are one of five opposition parties vying to attract the CNRP vote base, which was around 44 percent of the electorate in 2017.

Party president Yem Ponhearith has been a longtime ally of CNRP president Kem Sokha and a senior member of the Human Rights Party, which merged with the then-Sam Rainsy Party in 2012 to form the CNRP. Ponhearith says the party will focus on local governance, health and education services and corruption.

But, with less than 40 commune chief candidates spread across 10 provinces, Kampucheaniyum seems to be starting with a small footprint, especially in contrast to Candlelight party, which is contesting in nearly all communes.