The National Election Committee has officially declared 11 political parties eligible for July’s polls.
Twelve parties had applied, but the Khmer United People’s Party was rejected, the national election body said in a statement.
Eligible parties will include the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, coalition partner Funcinpec, opposition Sarm Rainsy Party, as well as the Norodom Ranariddh and Human Rights parties.
The official list of parties comes amid complaints by most of them that national TVK is broadcasting programming heavily favoring the CPP, a claim the station denies.
As the campaign period begins, all competing parties will be required equal air time to present their platforms to voters, but rights groups and election monitors say this is nothing compared to the favorable coverage the ruling party and Prime Minister Hun Sen are given.
