The ruling party
called the meeting to lay the groundwork for the pivotal upcoming elections
planned for 2017 and 2018
Cambodian People’s Party honorary president Heng Samrin yesterday kicked off
the party’s first national congress since the watershed July 2013 election, the
theme of which, he told supporters, was that reforms would equal “life” for the
CPP and the nation.
About 1,000 party rank-and-file gathered at Koh Pich for the opening of the
extraordinary congress, which was called so the CPP can lay the groundwork for
the pivotal 2017 and 2018 elections.
Prime Minister Hun Sen, the deputy CPP president, first announced that ailing
party president Chea Sim would be absent due to health problems. But the
premier, who is frequently now referred to as “acting” president, was careful
to note that “for us, as long as [he is] alive, [he is] still our party
president”.