Candlelight Party of Cambodia

The Candle Light Party, originally known as the Khmer Nation Party, was formed on November 2 and the party was officially announced on November 9, 1995.

The Khmer Nation Party, at the time, had a statue of Jayavarman VII as its symbol. But on March 10, 1998, the Khmer Nation Party was in conflict of ownership and forced to change its name to the Sam Rainsy Party, taking the name of the founding president to ensure that no one could disturb and legally claim ownership of the party’s name. The Party was already set up a “lighting candle” as a symbol.

On July 17, 2012, the Candle Light Party (formerly the Sam Rainsy Party) merged to create the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP).

On September 30, 2017, through the Extraordinary Congress, the Sam Rainsy Party changed name to the Candle Light Party in order to comply with the Law on the Amendment of the Law on Political Parties by maintaining the Candle Light symbol and the motto “Integrity, Truth, Justice.”

The Extraordinary Congress also decided as follows:

• Expand and strengthen patriotic and democratic forces
• Improve the management structure and amend some articles of the statute and internal regulations in accordance with the current political situation in the country.
• Identify and plan strategies and tactics to achieve the party’s goals.