Niem Chheng The Phnom Penh Post Tue, June 23, 2026

The Ministry of Interior has issued a stern warning, reminding political parties that accepting contributions from foreign entities, in any form, is contrary to the Kingdom’s Constitution and violate the Law on Political Parties.

The warning followed June 21 reporting from Indian outlet The Sunday Guardian that a US institution planned to support opposition parties ahead of coming elections.

The outlet, citing a confidential proposal it received, claimed that a $2 million fund was planned to strengthen Cambodia’s opposition movement. It said the plan included the merger of five parties into a single political organisation ahead of the 2027 commune and 2028 general elections.

It said the “Project for Democratic Revitalization and Electoral Competitiveness in Cambodia” was likely funded by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED),

NED is a Washington-based NGO, receives funding from the US congress. Its stated aim is advancing democracy worldwide by promoting groups such as political and business groups, trade unions and free markets.

The article named five political parties, Candlelight Party, Khmer Will Party, Grassroots Democratic Party, Cambodia Reform Party and Kampuchea Niyum Party, as well as several NGOs, that it believed would benefit from the alleged funding.

The Interior ministry reiterated that the Law on Political Parties stipulates that political parties are prohibited from accepting contributions, in any form, from foreign institutions, foreign companies, foreign nationals or organisations financed by foreign sources.

“In the event of a violation, the law authorises the ministry to impose financial penalties and it may also petition the Supreme Court for the dissolution of the political party concerned. The law further provides that political parties must not be subordinate to, or under the direction or control of, any foreign political party or foreign government.

“In cases of violation, the court may suspend the activities of the political party concerned or, in cases of serious violations, order its dissolution,” it said.

The ministry encouraged all political parties to conduct and continue to conduct their activities in accordance with the Constitution and the Law on Political Parties.

“Such efforts contribute to strengthening the rule of law, nation-building and national development in line with the principles of liberal multi-party democracy, while safeguarding independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity,” it said.

https://phnompenhpost.com/national/interior-ministry-warns-opposition-parties-may-face-dissolution-should-they-accept-foreign-aid/?fbclid=IwY2xjawSnRgxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBXa000NHgybEhyekM2RnNJc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHlGLJRnSt5ct0bdPruy9IQe9tvTSBkBogTUICg8W3GzFJ53tfrJ9o_ORpwrL_aem_oq0HAWQcZZ0zNNjfhmDokw

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