View source for FUNCINPEC

{{Short description|Royalist political party in Cambodia}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox political party
| country          = Cambodia
| name             = National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful and Cooperative Cambodia
| native_name      = រណសិរ្សបង្រួបបង្រួមជាតិដើម្បីកម្ពុជាឯករាជ្យ អព្យាក្រិត សន្តិភាព និងសហប្រតិបត្តិការ
| logo             = FUNCINPEC logo.png
| abbreviation     = FUNCINPEC
| colorcode        = {{party color|Funcinpec Party}}
| founder          = [[Norodom Sihanouk]]
| leader1_title    = President
| leader1_name     = [[Norodom Chakravuth]]
| leader2_title    = Vice President
| leader2_name     = [[Norodom Rattana Devi]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501111489/funcinpec-president-appoints-princess-as-vice-president/|title=Funcinpec president appoints princess as vice-president|language=en|date=13 July 2022|publisher=Khmer Times|access-date=28 July 2022}}</ref>
| leader3_title    = Secretary-General
| leader3_name     = Pich Sochetha
| predecessor      = [[Sangkum]]
| headquarters     = National Road 6A, Phum Kdey Chas, Sangkat Chroy Changvar, [[Khan Chroy Changvar]], [[Phnom Penh]], Cambodia
| foundation       = {{start date and age|1981|3|21|df=y}}
| ideology         = [[Royalism]] ([[House of Norodom|Norodom]])<br />[[Conservatism]]<br />[[Classical liberalism]]
| position         = [[Centre-right]] to [[Right-wing politics|right-wing]]<ref name="palgrave_norms">{{cite book |title=The Palgrave Handbook of Political Norms in Southeast Asia |first1=Gabriel |last1=Facal |first2=Elsa |last2=Lafaye de Micheaux |first3=Astrid |last3=Norén-Nilsson |isbn=978-981-99-9655-1 |doi=10.1007/978-981-99-9655-1 |page=439 |quote=But, the rift is not between the CPP and the opposition: the rift is between the conservatives—whether leftist, represented by the CPP, or rightist, represented by the FUNCINPEC and part of the opposition represented by Kem Sokha—and, on the other side, the SRP, which represents the real Republicans and anti-royalist, anti-monarchy people. |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |year=2025}}</ref>
| membership       = 500,000<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.postkhmer.com/%E1%9E%96%E1%9F%90%E1%9E%8F%E1%9F%8C%E1%9E%98%E1%9E%B6%E1%9E%93%E1%9E%87%E1%9E%B6%E1%9E%8F%E1%9E%B7/%E1%9E%9B%E1%9F%84%E1%9E%80-%E1%9E%8E%E1%9E%BB%E1%9E%94-%E1%9E%9F%E1%9E%BB%E1%9E%92%E1%9E%B6%E1%9E%9A%E1%9E%B7%E1%9E%91%E1%9F%92%E1%9E%92%E1%9E%B7%E1%9F%96-%E1%9E%9F%E1%9E%98%E1%9E%B6%E1%9E%87%E1%9E%B7%E1%9E%80%E1%9E%A0%E1%9F%8A%E1%9F%92%E1%9E%9C%E1%9E%BB%E1%9E%93%E1%9E%9F%E1%9F%8A%E1%9E%B7%E1%9E%93%E1%9E%94%E1%9F%89%E1%9E%B7%E1%9E%85%E1%9E%97%E1%9E%B6%E1%9E%82%E1%9E%85%E1%9F%92%E1%9E%9A%E1%9E%BE%E1%9E%93-%E1%9E%98%E1%9E%B7%E1%9E%93%E1%9E%96%E1%9F%92%E1%9E%9A%E1%9E%98%E1%9E%9A%E1%9E%BD%E1%9E%94%E1%9E%9A%E1%9E%BD%E1%9E%98|title=លោកណុប សុធារិទ្ធិ ៖ សមាជិកហ្វ៊ុនស៊ិនប៉ិចភាគច្រើនមិនព្រមរួបរួម|language=km|date=24 October 2019|publisher=The Phnom Penh Post|access-date=25 October 2019|archive-date=25 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925024152/https://www.postkhmer.com/%E1%9E%96%E1%9F%90%E1%9E%8F%E1%9F%8C%E1%9E%98%E1%9E%B6%E1%9E%93%E1%9E%87%E1%9E%B6%E1%9E%8F%E1%9E%B7/%E1%9E%9B%E1%9F%84%E1%9E%80-%E1%9E%8E%E1%9E%BB%E1%9E%94-%E1%9E%9F%E1%9E%BB%E1%9E%92%E1%9E%B6%E1%9E%9A%E1%9E%B7%E1%9E%91%E1%9F%92%E1%9E%92%E1%9E%B7%E1%9F%96-%E1%9E%9F%E1%9E%98%E1%9E%B6%E1%9E%87%E1%9E%B7%E1%9E%80%E1%9E%A0%E1%9F%8A%E1%9F%92%E1%9E%9C%E1%9E%BB%E1%9E%93%E1%9E%9F%E1%9F%8A%E1%9E%B7%E1%9E%93%E1%9E%94%E1%9F%89%E1%9E%B7%E1%9E%85%E1%9E%97%E1%9E%B6%E1%9E%82%E1%9E%85%E1%9F%92%E1%9E%9A%E1%9E%BE%E1%9E%93-%E1%9E%98%E1%9E%B7%E1%9E%93%E1%9E%96%E1%9F%92%E1%9E%9A%E1%9E%98%E1%9E%9A%E1%9E%BD%E1%9E%94%E1%9E%9A%E1%9E%BD%E1%9E%98|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| membership_year  = 2019
| colors           = {{Color box|#FDD017|border=darkgray}} [[Yellow]]
| international    = [[Centrist Democrat International]]
| seats1_title     = [[Senate of Cambodia|Senate]]
| seats1           = {{Composition bar|0|62|hex={{party color|FUNCINPEC}}}}
| seats2_title     = [[National Assembly of Cambodia|National Assembly]]
| seats2           = {{Composition bar|5|125|hex={{party color|FUNCINPEC}}}}
| seats3_title     = [[List of communes in Cambodia|Commune chiefs]]
| seats3           = {{composition bar|0|1652|hex={{party color|FUNCINPEC}}}}
| seats4_title     = [[Commune Council (Cambodia)|Commune councillors]]
| seats4           = {{Composition bar|19|11622|hex={{party color|FUNCINPEC}}}}
| seats5_title     = [[Administrative divisions of Cambodia|Local government]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national-politics/ministry-councillors-be-appointed-next-monday |title=Ministry: Councillors to be appointed by next Monday |first=Savi |last=Khorn |work=[[The Phnom Penh Post]] |date=11 June 2019 |access-date=22 June 2019}}</ref>
| seats5           = {{Composition bar|2|4114|hex={{party color|FUNCINPEC}}}}
| website          = [https://web.archive.org/web/20191103003331/http://www.funcinpecparty.info/ funcinpecparty.info] (archived)
| flag             = [[File:FUNCINPEC Party Flag.png|200px]]
| anthem           = "{{lang|km|ជយោ! គណបក្សហ៊្វុនស៊ិនប៉ិច}}"<br />("Victory! FUNCINPEC Party"){{parabr}}[[File:Anthem of the FUNCINPEC Party.mp3|175px]]
}}
{{Contains special characters|Khmer}}
{{Norodom Sihanouk sidebar}}
The '''National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful and Cooperative Cambodia''',{{efn|{{langx|km|រណសិរ្សបង្រួបបង្រួមជាតិដើម្បីកម្ពុជាឯករាជ្យ អព្យាក្រិត សន្តិភាព និងសហប្រតិបត្តិការ}}; {{langx|fr|Front uni national pour un Cambodge indépendant, neutre, pacifique et coopératif}}}} commonly referred to as '''FUNCINPEC''',{{efn|{{IPAc-en|ˈ|f|ʊ|n|s|ɪ|n|p|ɛ|k}}; {{langx|km|ហ្វ៊ុនស៊ិនប៉ិច}}, {{Transliteration|km|Hvŭnsĭnpĕch}} {{IPA|km|funsinpec|}}; {{IPA|fr|fœ̃nsinpɛk|lang}}}} is a [[royalist]] political party in [[Cambodia]]. Founded in 1981 by [[Norodom Sihanouk]], it began as a [[resistance movement]] against the [[People's Republic of Kampuchea]] (PRK) government. In 1982, it formed a resistance pact with the [[Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea]] (CGDK), together with the [[Khmer People's National Liberation Front]] (KPNLF) and the [[Khmer Rouge]]. It became a political party in 1992.

FUNCINPEC was one of the signatories of the [[1991 Paris Peace Accords]], which paved the way for the formation of the [[United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia]] (UNTAC). The party participated in the [[1993 Cambodian general election|1993 general elections]] organised by UNTAC. It won the elections, and formed a coalition government with the [[Cambodian People's Party]] (CPP), with which it jointly headed. [[Norodom Ranariddh]], Sihanouk's son who had succeeded him as the party president, became First Prime Minister while [[Hun Sen]], who was from the CPP, became Second Prime Minister.

In July 1997, [[1997 clashes in Cambodia|violent clashes]] occurred between factional forces separately allied to FUNCINPEC and the CPP, leading to Ranariddh's ouster from his position as First Prime Minister. Ranariddh subsequently returned from exile in March 1998 and led the party to the [[1998 Cambodian general election|1998 general elections]], which was won by CPP with FUNCINPEC as the first runner-up. Subsequently, FUNCINPEC joined CPP again, this time as a junior partner in a coalition government. Ranariddh was appointed as the [[List of Presidents of the National Assembly of Cambodia|President of the National Assembly]], a post which he held until 2006 when he was ousted from FUNCINPEC by the party's former secretary-general [[Nhek Bun Chhay]].

FUNCINPEC saw its share of voters and seats in the national assembly drop over the general elections of 2003, 2008 and 2013, with the party failing to win a single seat in the [[National Assembly of Cambodia|National Assembly]] at the [[2013 Cambodian general election|2013 general elections]]. In January 2015, Ranariddh returned to FUNCINPEC, and was reappointed as the party's president. The current acting president is Norodom Ranariddh's son, Prince Norodom Chakravuth.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ranariddh-appoints-his-son-leader-funcinpec-amid-medical-treatment|title=Ranariddh appoints his son leader of Funcinpec amid medical treatment}}</ref>

==Name==

"FUNCINPEC" is a French [[acronym]] for "'''F'''ront '''u'''ni '''n'''ational pour un '''C'''ambodge '''i'''ndépendant, '''n'''eutre, '''p'''acifique, '''e'''t '''c'''oopératif", which translates as "National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia" in English.<ref>Widyono (2008), p. xii</ref> It is commonly known by its acronym, used in the form of a word.<ref>{{cite web |author=Michael Hayes |url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/rise-and-demise-funcinpec |title=The rise and demise of Funcinpec |date=24 March 2006 |access-date=13 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304121428/http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/rise-and-demise-funcinpec |archive-date=4 March 2016 |work=Phnom Penh Post |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==History==

===1980s===

On 21 March 1981, Sihanouk founded FUNCINPEC, a royalist resistance movement, from [[Pyongyang]], [[North Korea]].<ref name="Jeldres 2005, p. 235">Jeldres (2005), p. 235</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=David M. Ayres|title=Anatomy of a Crisis: Education, Development, and the State in Cambodia, 1953–1998|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qMBgWV5SYekC&pg=PA136 |year=2000 |publisher=University of Hawaii Press |isbn=978-0-8248-2238-5 |page=136}}</ref> Over the next few months, Sihanouk forged closer ties with the Chinese government as he saw the need of gathering resistance armies sympathetic to FUNCINPEC,<ref name="Jeldres 2005, p. 236">Jeldres (2005), p. 236</ref> such as [[Moulinaka|MOULINAKA]] (Movement for the National Liberation of Kampuchea).<ref name="Jeldres 2005, p. 235"/> He had resisted earlier attempts between 1979 till 1981 by the Chinese government for him to forge political alliances with the [[Khmer Rouge]], whom he had accused of killing his own family members during the [[Cambodian genocide]].<ref>Jeldres (2005), pp. 218–9</ref> He reconsidered his position over allying with the Khmer Rouge, with whom they shared a common goal of ousting the [[People's Republic of Kampuchea]] (PRK) government, which was under Vietnam's influence. In September 1981, Sihanouk met with [[Khmer People's National Liberation Front]] (KPNLF) leader [[Son Sann]] and Khmer Rouge leader [[Khieu Samphan]] to establish the framework for a coalition government-in-exile.<ref name="Jeldres 2005, p. 236"/> Subsequently, on 22 June 1982, the [[Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea]] (CGDK) was formed, and Sihanouk was made its President.<ref>Jeldres (2005), p. 238</ref>

In September 1982, {{ill|Armee Nationale Sihanoukiste|ru|Национальная армия сианукистов}} (ANS) was formed by the merger of several pro-FUNCINPEC resistance armies, including MOULINAKA.<ref name="Mehta69">Mehta (2001), p. 69</ref> Ties between FUNCINPEC with the KPNLF and Khmer Rouge remained tenuous. On the one hand, Son Sann publicly criticised Sihanouk on several occasions, while on the other hand, the Khmer Rouge army periodically attacked the ANS, prompting Sihanouk in threatening to quit as CGDK's president on at least two occasions in June 1983<ref name="Mehta73">Mehta (2001), p. 73</ref> and July 1985.<ref>Mehta (2001), p. 74</ref> In December 1987, Sihanouk met with the Prime Minister of the PRK government, [[Hun Sen]] in France.<ref>Widyono (2008), p. 33</ref> The following year in July 1988, the first informal meeting was held in [[Jakarta]], [[Indonesia]] between the four warring Cambodian factions consisting of FUNCINPEC, Khmer Rouge, KPNLF and the PRK government. The meetings were held with a view to end the [[Cambodian–Vietnamese War]], and two additional meetings were later held which became known as the Jakarta Informal Meetings (JIM).<ref>Widyono (2008), p. 34</ref>

In August 1989, Sihanouk stepped down as the President of FUNCINPEC and was succeeded by [[Nhiek Tioulong]]. At the same time, Ranariddh was made the Secretary-General of the party.<ref>Mehta (2001), p. 82</ref> In September 1990, the four warring Cambodian factions reached an agreement to form the Supreme National Council (SNC), an organisation designed to oversee Cambodia's sovereign affairs in the United Nations on an interim basis. The SNC consisted of twelve members from the four warring Cambodian factions, with two seats going to FUNCINPEC. Sihanouk negotiated to become the 13th member of the SNC, a proposal which Hun Sen initially rejected,<ref>Findlay (1995), p. 8</ref> but later acceded after Sihanouk relinquished his FUNCINPEC party membership in July 1991. Sihanouk was elected as the chairman of the SNC,<ref>Findlay (1995), p. 9</ref> and the SNC seats under FUNCINPEC's quota were filled up by Ranariddh and [[Sam Rainsy]].<ref>Findlay (1995), p. 58</ref> When the [[1991 Paris Peace Accords|Paris Peace Accords]] were signed in October 1991, Ranariddh represented the party as its signatory.<ref>Secretariat of the United Nations (1991), p. 300</ref>

===1993 elections===
{{Main|1993 Cambodian general election}}

Ranariddh was elected as FUNCINPEC's president in February 1992.<ref>Widyono (2008), p. 154</ref> Subsequently, in August 1992, FUNCINPEC formally registered itself as a political party under the [[United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia]] (UNTAC) administration, and started opening party offices across Cambodia the following month.<ref>Widyono (2008), p. 116</ref> Party offices and officials were harassed and attacked by [[People's Republic of Kampuchea#Transition|State of Cambodia]] (SOC) secret police and military intelligence officials.<ref>Hughes (1996), p. 33</ref> Between November 1992 and January 1993, 18 FUNCINPEC officials were killed and another 22 officials wounded, prompting Ranariddh to call on UNTAC to intervene and end the violence. UNTAC responded by setting up a special prosecutor's office to investigate cases of political violence,<ref>Hughes (1996), p. 50</ref> but faced resistance from the SOC police in arresting and prosecuting offenders.<ref>Heder & Ledgerwood (1995), pp. 125, 127</ref> Most of the violent attacks occurred in the [[Kampong Cham Province|Kampong Cham]] and [[Battambang]] provinces,<ref>Heder & Ledgerwood (1995), p. 120</ref> whereby the governor in the latter province, Ung Sami was found to have been directly involved in the attacks.<ref>Hughes (1996), p. 51</ref> When UNTAC allowed election campaigns to start in April 1993, FUNCINPEC held few election rallies due to intimidations from SOC police.<ref>Heder & Ledgerwood (1995), p. 198</ref> They campaigned through low-key methods, such as using pick-up trucks to travel around the country and broadcast political messages as well as sending party workers to visit villages in the countryside.<ref name="Heder199">Heder & Ledgerwood (1995), p. 199</ref>

FUNCINPEC had 400,000 members<ref>Mehta (2001), p. 93</ref> by the time UNTAC allowed political parties to start election campaigns on 7 April 1993.<ref>Mehta (2001), p. 91</ref> They campaigned on the party's historical relations with Sihanouk<ref name="Heder & Ledgerwood 1995, p. 63">Heder & Ledgerwood (1995), p. 63</ref> as well as Ranariddh's blood ties to his father. Party supporters wore yellow T-shirts depicting Sihanouk,<ref>Mehta (2001), p. 92</ref> and made rallying calls that "a vote for FUNCINPEC was a vote for Sihanouk".<ref>Widyono (2008), p. 118</ref> Sihanouk remained popular with the majority of the Cambodian electorate,<ref name="Heder & Ledgerwood 1995, p. 63"/> and the [[Cambodian People's Party]] (CPP), the successor party to the PRK and SOC governments, was aware of such voter sentiments. In their editorials, the CPP emphasised their efforts to bring about Sihanouk's return to the country in 1991, as well as policy parallels between the CPP and the [[Sangkum]], the political organisation which Sihanouk had led in the 1950s and 1960s.<ref>Heder & Ledgerwood (1995), p. 193</ref>

Voting was carried out between 23 and 28 May 1993<ref>Findlay (1995), p. 82</ref> and FUNCINPEC secured 45.47% of all valid votes cast, which entitled them to take up 58 out of 120 seats in the [[National Assembly of Cambodia|constituent assembly]]<ref name="Findlay84">Findlay (1995), p. 84</ref> FUNCINPEC obtained the most seats in Kampong Cham, [[Kandal Province|Kandal]] and [[Phnom Penh]].<ref>Mehta (2001), p. 123</ref> The CPP came in second place and secured 38.23% of valid votes,<ref name="Findlay84"/> and were unhappy with the outcome of the elections. On 3 June 1993, CPP leaders [[Chea Sim]] and Hun Sen met with Sihanouk to propose that he should lead a new interim government, and also demanding power-sharing for the CPP with FUNCINPEC on a fifty-fifty basis. Sihanouk agreed to the CPP's proposal and announced the formation of an interim government that evening.<ref>Widyono (2008), p. 124</ref> Ranariddh and other FUNCINPEC leaders were not consulted over Sihanouk's proposal, and the announcement caught them by surprise. Ranariddh sent a fax to his father to disapprove of the CPP's proposal,<ref>Mehta (2001), p. 99</ref> and the United States expressed a similar stance. Sihanouk publicly rescinded his earlier announcement of the interim government's formation the following day.<ref>Widyono (2008), p. 125</ref>

On 10 June 1993, Chakrapong led a secession movement and threatened to form a breakaway state consisting of seven eastern Cambodian provinces. Chakrapong had by then joined the CPP was supported by the interior minister, General Sin Song<ref>Widyono (2008), p. 128</ref> and Hun Sen's older brother, Hun Neng. The secession movement pressured Ranariddh to accede to CPP's request for power-sharing, and Hun Sen subsequently persuaded his brother to drop the secession movement.<ref>Mehta (2001), p. 102</ref> Four days later, the first constituent assembly meeting was held which saw an interim government being formed, with Hun Sen and Ranariddh serving as co-Prime Ministers<ref>Widyono (2008), p. 129</ref> in a dual Prime Ministership arrangement.<ref>Mehta (2001), p. 104</ref> There were a total of thirty-three cabinet posts available, while the CPP got sixteen, FUNCINPEC got thirteen and the other coalition partners got the four remaining posts available.<ref name="Widyono 2008, p. 130">Widyono (2008), p. 130</ref> When Sihanouk was re-instated as the [[King of Cambodia]] on 24 September 1993, he formalised the power-sharing arrangement by appointing Ranariddh as the First Prime Minister and Hun Sen as  the Second Prime Minister in the new government.<ref name="Widyono131">Widyono (2008), p. 131</ref>

===Ranariddh's co-premiership===

The new government shrunk the number of cabinet portfolios to 23, equally divided between FUNCINPEC and CPP. Each took eleven ministries under their charge while the BLDP was allocated one cabinet post.<ref>Widyono (2008), p. 144</ref> The CPP gave away half of all provincial governor posts available to FUNCINPEC, but kept most of the [[local government]] posts consisting of district and commune chiefs as well as civil service positions to its party appointees.<ref>Widyono (2008), p. 145</ref> Ranariddh developed a good working relationship with Hun Sen,<ref name="Widyono131"/> which was maintained until March 1996.<ref>Widyono (2008), p. 165</ref> The UN secretary-general's representative to Cambodia, Benny Widyono noted that while both of them appeared together in public functions, Hun Sen held more political sway as compared to Ranariddh in the government.<ref>Widyono (2008), p. 166</ref> In October 1994, Ranariddh and Hun Sen sacked Sam Rainsy as FUNCINPEC's finance minister after he repeatedly leaked confidential documents and corruption in a public manner.<ref>Widyono (2008), pp. 178–9</ref> Rainsy's sacking upset Norodom Sirivudh, the secretary-general for FUNCINPEC and Minister of Foreign Affairs to resign from his ministerial post at the same time.<ref>Mehta (2001), p. 142</ref> Rainsy continued to criticise the government in his capacity as a Member of Parliament (MP), and Ranariddh introduced a motion to expel Rainsy from the [[National Assembly of Cambodia|National Assembly]] and FUNCINPEC.<ref>Widyono (2008), p. 180</ref>

In October 1995, Sirivudh talked about his desire to assassinate Hun Sen during an interview with So Naro, who was the secretary-general of the Khmer Journalists Association.<ref name="Widyono183">Widyono (2008), p. 183</ref> A few days later Ung Phan, a FUNCINPEC minister who had close ties with Hun Sen,<ref>Widyono (2008), p. 188</ref> called Sirivudh and accused him of getting involved in receiving kickbacks for printing Cambodian passports. Sirivudh angrily denied the accusations and threatened to kill Hun Sen over the phone. The phone conversation was recorded, and Ung Phan passed the recorded phone conversation to CPP co-minister of the interior [[Sar Kheng]]. Hun Sen learnt of the conversation and became enraged at Sirivudh's comments,<ref name="Widyono183"/> and pressured Ranariddh and other FUNCINPEC ministers to strip his parliamentary immunity so that he could be arrested. Sirivudh was arrested and briefly placed in detention, but subsequently exiled to France when Sihanouk intervened in the case.<ref>Widyono (2008), pp. 184–5</ref>

The following January, FUNCINPEC held a closed-door seminar at [[Sihanoukville (city)|Sihanoukville]], attended by selected party members close to Ranariddh. The attendees expressed concern of CPP's attempts to dominate over FUNCINPEC, and a resolution was adopted to build up the military strength of pro-FUNCINPEC forces within the [[Royal Cambodian Armed Forces]] (RCAF).<ref>Widyono (2008), p. 214</ref> At the same time, party members had become increasingly resentful at Ranariddh for not getting party posts despite campaigning for the party in the 1993 elections.<ref>Widyono (2008), p. 216</ref> When the party congress was held on 22 March 1996, Ranariddh criticized the CPP, complaining over a range of issues that ranged from delays in allocating  [[local government]] posts to FUNCINPEC officials, to the lack of executive authority of FUNCINPEC cabinet ministers vis-a-vis their CPP counterparts. Ranariddh threatened to dissolve the National Assembly and hold elections, should FUNCINPEC's concerns be ignored.<ref>Widyono (2008), p. 215</ref> Subsequently, the CPP issue an official statement to protest Ranariddh's criticisms.<ref>Widyono (2008), p. 217</ref>

Hun Sen developed a belligerent attitude toward Ranariddh and FUNCINPEC, calling him a "real dog" at a CPP party meeting in June 1996.<ref>{{cite web |author=Jason Barber |url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/hun-sen-takes-hard-line-party-summit |title=Hun Sen takes hard line at party summit |date=26 July 1996 |access-date=6 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924120609/http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/hun-sen-takes-hard-line-party-summit |archive-date=24 September 2015 |work=Phnom Penh Post |url-status=dead }}</ref> Several months later in January 1997, Ranariddh led FUNCINPEC to forge a political alliance, the National United Front (NUF), with the Khmer Nation Party, [[Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party]] and the Khmer Neutral Party.<ref name="Peou295">Peou (2000), p. 295</ref> The CPP condemned NUF's formation, and proceeded to form a rival political coalition consisting of political parties ideologically aligned to the former [[Khmer Republic]].<ref name="Widyono240">Widyono (2008), p. 240</ref> Tensions between FUNCINPEC and the CPP worsened even further<ref name="Peou295"/> when armed clashes between [[Royal Cambodian Armed Forces]] (RCAF) troops separately aligned to FUNCINPEC and CPP broke out at [[Battambang Province]] on 10 February 1997.<ref>Widyono (2008), p. 237</ref> On that day, troops under the command of the FUNCINPEC provincial deputy governor, Serey Kosal encountered a convoy of 200 pro-CPP troops who were travelling en route to [[Samlout District|Samlout]]. After Serey Kosal's troops disarmed the pro-CPP troops, news of the incident spread to nearby areas and fighting soon broke out between troops from both rival factions, leaving at least 21 troops dead.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Tricia Fitzgerald |author2=Sok Pov |url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/factional-fighting-jolts-northwest |title=Factional fighting jolts the northwest |date=21 February 1997 |access-date=6 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924104323/http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/factional-fighting-jolts-northwest |archive-date=24 September 2015 |work=Phnom Penh Post |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="HRW2007">{{cite web |author=Brad Adams |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2007/07/27/cambodia-july-1997-shock-and-aftermath |title=Cambodia: July 1997: Shock and Aftermath |date=28 July 1996 |access-date=1 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709210709/https://www.hrw.org/news/2007/07/27/cambodia-july-1997-shock-and-aftermath |archive-date=9 July 2015 |work=Human Rights Watch |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 14 April 1997, Ung Phan announced that he and twelve other FUNCINPEC MPs had decided to break away from the party. Hun Sen applauded the move, pledging support for any initiative within the party to oust Ranariddh as its president.<ref name="Widyono240"/> Subsequently, FUNCINPEC's steering committee quickly moved to woo back the defecting MPs, successfully getting back eight of them.<ref>Peou (2000), p. 343</ref> At the same time, they expelled the five remaining MPs who refused to comply, including Ung Phan.<ref>Peou (2000), p. 344</ref> Subsequently, on 1 June 1997, the renegade MPs convened a rival party congress dubbed as "FUNCINPEC II",<ref>Summers (2003), p. 235</ref> which was attended by 800 people. At the congress, the attendees voted for Toan Chhay, the governor of Siem Reap province, as its new president. At the same time, the attendees accused Ranariddh of gross incompetence, who in return declared the congress as illegal and accused the CPP of interfering in the party's affairs.<ref name="Widyono240"/>

===Ranariddh's ouster and 1998 elections===
{{Main|1998 Cambodian general election}}

On 5 July 1997, RCAF troops separately aligned to CPP and FUNCINPEC [[1997 clashes in Cambodia|fought]] in Phnom Penh, leading to the latter's defeat the following day.<ref name="Peou298">Peou (2000), p. 298</ref> Ranariddh, who had sought refuge in France just two days before the fighting<ref>Mehta (2001), p. 110</ref> was labelled as a "criminal" and "traitor" by Hun Sen for attempting to "destabilise Cambodia".<ref name="Peou298"/> Subsequently, on 11 July 1997, Loy Sim Chheang, FUNCINPEC's First Vice President of the National Assembly, proposed for another FUNCINPEC MP to replace Ranariddh as the First Prime Minister. Five days later, FUNCINPEC's foreign minister [[Ung Huot]] was nominated to take his place.<ref>Peou (2000), p. 345</ref> When a National Assembly session was held on 6 August 1997, Ung Huot's appointment was endorsed by 90 MPs, consisting of CPP MPs and FUNCINPEC MPs who have switched allegiances to Hun Sen. At the same time, 29 FUNCINPEC MPs who remained loyal to Ranariddh, boycotted the session.<ref>Widyono (2008), p. 260</ref>

Shortly after Ung Huot's appointment, Toan Chhay who had proclaimed himself as the president of the FUNCINPEC at a rival congress in June 1997, jockeyed for control over the party leadership with Nady Tan, another FUNCINPEC leader<ref>{{cite web|author=Nick Lenaghan|url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/funcinpec-chiefs-eye-top-positions|title=Funcinpec chiefs eye up top positions|date=29 August 1997|access-date=1 January 2016|work=Phnom Penh Post}}</ref> who remained sympathetic to Ranariddh.<ref>Peou (2000), p. 370</ref> In October 1997, FUNCINPEC supporters allied to Nady Tan proposed renaming the party to "Sangkum Thmei", hoping to capitalise on the electorate's popularity with the [[Sangkum Reastr Niyum]], Sihanouk's political party when he was in power.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Claudi Arizzi |author2=Huw Watkin |url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/funcinpec-members-moot-new-sangkum|title=Funcinpec members moot new 'Sangkum'|date=24 October 1997|access-date=1 January 2016|work=Phnom Penh Post}}</ref> While FUNCINPEC did not adopt a new name, the name "Sangkum Thmei" was adopted by a splinter party, led by Loy Sim Chheang who later left FUNCINPEC by February 1998. At the same time, Ung Huot followed suit, and formed another splinter party known as "Reastr Niyum".<ref>{{cite web|author=Jason Barber|url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/aim-game|title=The aim of the game|date=13 February 1998|access-date=1 January 2016|work=Phnom Penh Post}}</ref>

In early March 1998, a military court convicted Ranariddh guilty of smuggling weapons and causing instability to the country, sentencing him to a total of 35 years of imprisonment. After [[ASEAN]] and the [[European Union]] stepped in to condemn the sentences, Ranariddh was pardoned of all charges, allowing him to return to Cambodia on 30 March 1998 to prepare for the general elections scheduled to be held in July 1998,<ref name="Summers237">Summers (2003), p. 237</ref> allowing Ranariddh to spearhead FUNCINPEC's election campaign.<ref>Mehta (2001), p. 128</ref> When campaigning for started in late June 1998,<ref>Peou (2000), p. 316</ref> FUNCINPEC focused on pro-monarchial sentiments, improving living standards<ref>Peou (2000), p. 317</ref> and anti-Vietnamese rhetoric.<ref name="PPPost-17071998">{{cite web |author1=Samreth Sopha |author2=Elizabeth Moorthy |url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/funcinpec-relies-royalty-anti-vn-rhetoric |title=Funcinpec relies on royalty, anti-VN rhetoric |date=17 July 1998 |access-date=2 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702163536/http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/funcinpec-relies-royalty-anti-vn-rhetoric |archive-date=2 July 2015 |work=Phnom Penh Post |url-status=dead }}</ref> The party faced numerous obstacles, including loss of access to television and radio channels which had come under CPP's exclusive control following the 1997 clashes,<ref name="Summers237"/> and the difficulties of its supporters in getting to party rallies.<ref name="PPPost-17071998"/> When the results were announced on 5 August 1998, FUNCINPEC secured 31.7% of all valid votes, which translates to 43 seats in the National Assembly, lagging behind the CPP which polled 41.4% of the votes and secured 64 seats.<ref name="Peou318">Peou (2000), p. 318</ref>

As the CPP required a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly to form a government, it offered FUNCINPEC and the [[Sam Rainsy Party]] (SRP), which had come in third place in the elections, to become joint partners of a coalition government.<ref name="Peou318"/> Both Ranariddh and Rainsy, now the leader of his eponymous party refused, and filed complaints against election irregularities to the National Election Committee (NEC). When the NEC turned down their complaints, they organised public protests between 24 August until 7 September 1998, when riot police stepped in to break them up.<ref>Peou (2000), p. 319</ref> Subsequently, Sihanouk meditated two meetings in September and November 1998, leading to a political deal being struck between CPP and FUNCINPEC in the second meeting.<ref name="Summers238">Summers (2003), p. 238</ref> The deal provided for another coalition government between CPP and FUNCINPEC, with the latter as a junior coalition partner controlling the tourism, justice, education, health, culture and women's-cum-veteran's affairs portfolios.<ref>Mehta (2001), p. 131</ref> In exchange for FUNCINPEC's support for Hun Sen to become the sole Prime Minister, Ranariddh was made the [[List of Presidents of the National Assembly of Cambodia|President of the National Assembly]].<ref>Widyono (2008), p. 268</ref>

===Continued co-operation with CPP and Ranariddh's sacking===
[[File:FUNCINPEC logo 1992-2006.jpg|200px|thumb|Party logo of FUNCINPEC (2002–2006)]]

After becoming the President of the National Assembly, Ranariddh supported the creation of the [[Senate of Cambodia|Cambodian Senate]],<ref>{{cite web|author1=Beth Moorthy |author2=Samreth Sopha |url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/prince-eager-push-senate-creation|title=Prince eager to push for Senate creation|date=19 February 1999|access-date=14 January 2016|work=Phnom Penh Post}}</ref> which was formally established in March 1999. The senate had a total of 61 seats, of which 21 seats were allocated to FUNCINPEC, based on proportional representation vis-a-vis the National Assembly.<ref name="Summers238"/> Over the next few years until 2002, FUNCINPEC maintained cordial ties with the CPP,<ref name="Summers239">Summers (2003), p. 239</ref> to which Ranariddh described it as an "eternal partner" during FUNCINPEC's party congress in March 2001.<ref>Mehta (2001), p. 179</ref> Subsequently, in July 2001, Ranariddh welcomed Sirivudh back into the FUNCINPEC and reappointed him as its secretary-general.<ref name="Summers239"/> The following month, FUNCINPEC replaced several cabinet ministers, governors, and deputy governors from its party. As the deputy secretary general of FUNCINPEC, Nhek Bun Chhay saw it, the reshuffles were done to increase the voters' confidence in the party and prepare for the [[Commune Council (Cambodia)|commune council]] elections and general elections, which were scheduled to take place in 2002 and 2003 respectively.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Thet Sambath|author2=Matt Reed|url=https://www.cambodiadaily.com/archives/funcinpec-reshuffle-part-of-sirivudhs-strategy-25749/|title=Funcinpec Reshuffle Part of Sirivudh's Strategy|date=11 September 2001|access-date=14 January 2016|work=The Cambodia Daily|archive-date=5 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305074350/https://www.cambodiadaily.com/archives/funcinpec-reshuffle-part-of-sirivudhs-strategy-25749/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

When the commune elections were held in February 2002, FUNCINPEC performed poorly, winning control over 10 out of a total of 1,621 communes across Cambodia.<ref>{{cite web|author=Van Roeun|url=https://www.cambodiadaily.com/archives/commune-election-figures-made-final-by-nec-30305/|title=Commune Election Figures Made Final By NEC|date=9 March 2002|access-date=14 January 2016|work=The Cambodia Daily|archive-date=5 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305013514/https://www.cambodiadaily.com/archives/commune-election-figures-made-final-by-nec-30305/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Subsequently, rifts within the party boiled into the open as Khan Savoeun, a Deputy Commander-in-chief of the RCAF, accused its co-Minister of the Interior, [[You Hockry]] of practising nepotism and corruption. At the same time, Hang Dara<ref name="Summers239"/> and Norodom Chakrapong – the latter had returned to FUNCINPEC in March 1999<ref>Mehta (2001), p. 161</ref> – formed their own splinter parties and took along a large number of FUNCINPEC party members. A year later in July 2003, The [[2003 Cambodian general election|general elections]] were held, and took 20.8% of the votes,<ref name="Strangio99">Strangio (2014), p. 99</ref> which entitled them to 26 seats in the National Assembly.<ref>{{cite web|author=Yun Samean|url=https://www.cambodiadaily.com/archives/cpp-wins-73-seats-in-official-election-returns-40324/|title=CPP Wins 73 Seats in Official Election Returns|date=1 September 2003|access-date=14 January 2016|work=The Cambodia Daily|archive-date=5 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305073928/https://www.cambodiadaily.com/archives/cpp-wins-73-seats-in-official-election-returns-40324/|url-status=dead}}</ref> While the CPP won the election, it still lacked the constitutional requirement of having a [[Supermajority#Two-thirds vote|two-thirds majority]] on its own in forming a new government without the support of other coalition partners.<ref name="Strangio99"/>

Subsequently, in August 2003, Ranariddh and Rainsy joined hands once again, forming a political alliance known as the "Alliance of Democrats". While the AD agreed to the idea of a coalition government between the CPP, FUNCINPEC and Rainsy's SRP, they also called for Hun Sen to step down as Prime Minister,<ref>{{cite web |author1=Yun Samean |author2=Porter Barron |url=https://www.cambodiadaily.com/archives/prince-repeats-call-for-a-3-party-coalition-40084/ |title=Prince Repeats Call for a 3-Party Coalition |work=[[The Cambodia Daily]] |date=18 August 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703020305/https://www.cambodiadaily.com/archives/prince-repeats-call-for-a-3-party-coalition-40084/ |archive-date=3 July 2015 |access-date=13 February 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and reforming the NEC, which the AD claimed that it was filled with CPP's appointees.<ref name="Strangio99"/> Hun Sen balked at accepting AD's demands, leading to several months of political stalemate. During this time, several party activists from FUNCINPEC and SRP were killed, purportedly by henchmen linked to the CPP. At the same time, several FUNCINPEC officials have obtained loans from CPP-linked businessmen which they had used for financing their own election campaigns. These officials lobbied Ranariddh into accepting the idea of a CPP-FUNCINPEC coalition government so as to secure government positions and repay their loans.<ref>Strangio (2014), p. 100</ref>

Ranariddh eventually acceded in June 2004, walking out of his political alliance with Rainsy and agreed to the idea of a CPP-FUNCINPEC coalition government with Hun Sen remaining in his position as Prime Minister. At the same time, Hun Sen coaxed Ranariddh into supporting a constitutional amendment known as a "package vote", which required MPs to support legislation and ministerial appointments by an open show of hands. While Ranariddh acquiesced to Hun Sen's demand, the "package vote" amendment was opposed by the SRP, Sihanouk<ref>Strangio (2014), p. 101</ref> and CPP President [[Chea Sim]]. Ranariddh's decision to join hands with the CPP was criticised by many FUNCINPEC leaders such as [[Mu Sochua]], subsequently leading to their resignation from the party.<ref>Strangio (2014), p. 102</ref> On 2 March 2006, the National Assembly passed a constitutional amendment which required only a [[Majority|simple majority]] of parliamentarians to support a government, instead of the two-thirds majority that was previously stipulated.<ref name="Strangio113">Strangio (2014), p. 113</ref> After the amendment was passed, Hun Sen abruptly fired Norodom Sirivudh and Nhek Bun Chhay, who were FUNCINPEC's co-minister of interior and co-minister of defense.<ref name="Widyono277">Widoyono (2008), p. 277</ref> Ranariddh protested the dismissals, resigning as the President of the National Assembly and left Cambodia for France.<ref>Widoyono (2008), p. 278</ref>

After Ranariddh's departure, FUNCINPEC splintered into two camps – one camp by members loyal to Ranariddh, while another camp consisted of members that were allied to Nhek Bun Chhay, who by now had become the party's secretary-general and closely associated with Hun Sen. Hun Sen started attacking Ranariddh, accusing the latter of eloping<ref name="Strangio113"/> with Ouk Phalla, a former Apsara dancer in getting her own friends and family members into government posts.<ref>{{cite web |author=Yun Samean |url=https://www.cambodiadaily.com/archives/over-40-fpec-officials-removed-from-posts-53928/ |title=Over 40 F'pec Officials Removed From Posts |work=[[The Cambodia Daily]] |date=3 May 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003124851/https://www.cambodiadaily.com/archives/over-40-fpec-officials-removed-from-posts-53928/ |archive-date=3 October 2015 |access-date=14 February 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> At the same time, party leaders from both rival camps started quarreling publicly, with Serey Kosal, a FUNCINPEC minister seen to be allied to Ranariddh, accusing Nhek Bun Chhay of attempting to topple Ranariddh.<ref>{{cite web|author=Vong Sokheng|url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/split-widens-funcinpec-hierarchs-trade-verbal-blows|title=Split widens as Funcinpec hierarchs trade verbal blows|date=16 June 2006|access-date=14 January 2016|work=Phnom Penh Post}}</ref> When an extraordinary congress was held on 18 October 2006, Ranariddh was dismissed as FUNCINPEC's president, who was in turn replaced by his brother-in-law, [[Keo Puth Rasmey]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Vong Sokheng |url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/funcinpec-dismisses-ranariddh |title=Funcinpec dismisses Ranariddh |date=20 October 2006 |access-date=14 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924115755/http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/funcinpec-dismisses-ranariddh |archive-date=24 September 2015 |work=Phnom Penh Post |url-status=dead}}</ref> Nhek Bun Chhay justified Ranariddh's ouster on the grounds of his deteriorating relations with Hun Sen as well as his practice of spending prolonged periods of time overseas.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Yun Samean |author2=James Welsh |url=https://www.cambodiadaily.com/archives/prince-ousted-as-president-of-funcinpec-55338/ |title=Prince Ousted As President Of Funcinpec |work=[[The Cambodia Daily]] |date=19 October 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222132515/https://www.cambodiadaily.com/archives/prince-ousted-as-president-of-funcinpec-55338/ |archive-date=22 December 2015 |access-date=27 October 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Interregnum years===
[[File:FUNCINPEC logo 2006-2015.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Logo (2006–2015)]]
On 9 November 2006, Nhek Bun Chhay filed a lawsuit accusing Ranariddh of pocketing $3.6 million from the sale of its headquarters to the French embassy in 2005.<ref>{{cite web |author=Yun Samean |url=https://www.cambodiadaily.com/archives/suit-filed-on-sale-of-fpec-headquarters-60381/ |title=Suit Filed on Sale of F'pec Headquarters |work=[[The Cambodia Daily]] |date=10 November 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003123410/https://www.cambodiadaily.com/archives/suit-filed-on-sale-of-fpec-headquarters-60381/ |archive-date=3 October 2015 |access-date=14 February 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Within days, Ranariddh returned to Cambodia, and announced the formation of the [[Norodom Ranariddh Party]] (NRP) which he positioned it as an opposition party vis-a-vis the CPP and FUNCINPEC.<ref>{{cite web |author=Vong Sokheng |url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ranariddh-now-i-am-opposition-party |title=Ranariddh: 'Now, I am the opposition party |date=17 November 2006 |access-date=14 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304102510/http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ranariddh-now-i-am-opposition-party |archive-date=4 March 2016 |work=Phnom Penh Post |url-status=dead}}</ref> In March 2007 Ranariddh, who feared the prospect of imprisonment from the embezzlement suit, left Cambodia. Subsequently, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court ruled in Nhek Bun Chhay's favour, ruling Ranariddh guilty and sentencing the latter to 18 months of imprisonment.<ref>Strangio (2014), p. 114</ref> In October 2007, FUNCINPEC endorsed [[Norodom Arunrasmy]], the wife of Keo Puth Rasmey, as the party's candidate for the post of Prime Minister in the [[2008 Cambodian general election|general elections]] slated to be held in 2008. At the same time, Nhek Bun Chhay mooted the possibility of getting back Ranariddh into FUNCINPEC, fearing that the party might have lost its popularity following Ranariddh's ouster.<ref>{{cite web |author=Vong Sokheng |url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/fpec-wants-ranariddh-back-fold |title=RF'PEC wants Ranariddh back in the fold |date=18 October 2007 |access-date=14 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304115203/http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/fpec-wants-ranariddh-back-fold |archive-date=4 March 2016 |work=Phnom Penh Post |url-status=dead}}</ref>

When the general elections were held in July 2008, FUNCINPEC won 2 seats in the National Assembly as most of the party's supporters voted for the CPP, which won the elections and secured 90 seats in the National Assembly. As a result of its losses incurred in the general election,<ref>Strangio (2014), p. 115</ref> the CPP took over ministerial positions which were formerly held by FUNCINPEC MPs since 2004, although it still allowed Nhek Bun Chhay to remain in his position as Deputy Prime Minister, while 32 senior party members were appointed as secretary-of-state and undersecretary-of-state positions.<ref>{{cite web |author=Cheang Sokha |url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/funcinpec-lose-govt-posts-poll-aftermath |title=Funcinpec to lose govt posts in poll aftermath |date=14 August 2008 |access-date=14 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216070021/http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/funcinpec-lose-govt-posts-poll-aftermath |archive-date=16 February 2016 |work=Phnom Penh Post |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the next few months after the elections, the ''Phnom Penh Post'' reported that at least 10 percent of its members defected to the CPP, including its former ministers Pou Sothirak<ref>{{cite web |author1=Vong Sokheng |author2=Neth Pheaktra |url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/flood-funcinpec-defectors-continues |title=Flood of Funcinpec defectors continue |date=14 August 2008 |access-date=14 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216070009/http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/flood-funcinpec-defectors-continues |archive-date=16 February 2016 |work=Phnom Penh Post |url-status=dead }}</ref> and Sun Chhanthol.<ref>{{cite web |author=Vong Sokheng |url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/funcinpec-defections-continue-unabated-six-more-jump-ship |title=Funcinpec defections continue unabated, as six more jump ship |date=2 February 2009 |access-date=14 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216070032/http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/funcinpec-defections-continue-unabated-six-more-jump-ship |archive-date=16 February 2016 |work=Phnom Penh Post |url-status=dead }}</ref> In February 2009, FUNCINPEC signed an agreement with the NRP to cooperate for the commune council elections that was slated to take place in May 2009.<ref>{{cite web|author=Meas Sokchea|url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/royalists-unite-elections|title=Royalists unite for elections|date=3 February 2009|access-date=12 February 2015|work=Phnom Penh Post}}</ref> When the elections took place in that month, the FUNCINPEC-NRP alliance only secured less than 0.1% of all votes cast for the provincial, municipal and district-level seats.<ref>{{cite web|author=Post Staff|url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cpp-win-75pc-council-vote-nec|title=CPP win 75pc of council vote: NEC|date=19 May 2009|access-date=12 February 2015|work=Phnom Penh Post}}</ref>

Both FUNCINPEC and NRP held tentative discussions on the possibility of a party merger in June 2009<ref>{{cite web|author=Meas Sokchea|url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/two-royalist-parties-remain-independent-time-being|title=Two royalist parties to remain independent, for the time being|date=9 June 2009|access-date=12 February 2015|work=Phnom Penh Post}}</ref> and April 2010,<ref>{{cite web|author=Tep Nimol|url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/royalist-parties-merge-month-official|title=Royalist parties to merge this month: official|date=6 April 2010|access-date=12 February 2015|work=Phnom Penh Post}}</ref> with both parties agreeing an electoral alliance in June 2010 as a first step toward an eventual merger.<ref>{{cite web|author=Meas Sokchea|url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/royalists-form-new-alliance|title=Royalists form new alliance|date=8 June 2010|access-date=12 February 2015|work=Phnom Penh Post}}</ref> In December 2010, Ranariddh publicly for FUNCINPEC and NRP to merge, suggesting that the new party borne out of the merger be named "FUNCINPEC 81", with "81" as a reference point to the year which Sihanouk founded FUNCINPEC in 1981. Sihanouk quickly distanced himself from any association with the party, and posted a website on his website iterating his unequivocal support for Hun Sen and the CPP government. In response, Ranariddh pledged that he would similarly support Hun Sen should the party merger be realised. Nhek Bun Chhay balked at Ranariddh's suggestion, saying that the party merger would cause "difficulties" with the party's continued partnership with the CPP,<ref>{{cite web|author1=Meas Sokchea |author2=Vong Sokheng |url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/prince-floats-coalition-deal|title=Prince floats coalition deal|date=13 December 2010|access-date=12 February 2015|work=Phnom Penh Post}}</ref> while the party issued an official statement rejecting Ranariddh's proposal.<ref>{{cite web|author=Meas Sokchea|url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/funcinpec-still-opposed-royalist-merger|title=Funcinpec still opposed to royalist merger|date=2 January 2011|access-date=12 February 2015|work=Phnom Penh Post}}</ref>

In April 2011, Nhek Bun Chhay was elected as the party's president, replacing Keo Puth Rasmey who in turn was appointed the party's chairperson.<ref>{{cite web|author=Meas Sokchea|url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/funcinpec-taps-bun-chhay|title=Funcinpec taps Bun Chhay|date=4 April 2011|access-date=12 February 2015|work=Phnom Penh Post}}</ref> Thirteen months later, Nhek Bun Chhay and Ranariddh signed an agreement to merge NRP into FUNCINPEC, which provided for Ranariddh to become FUNCINPEC's president with Nhek Bun Chhay as his deputy. The agreement was brokered by Hun Sen, who wanted both parties to reunite.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Vong Sokheng |author2=Bridget Di Certo |url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/funcinpec-nrp-set-merge|title=Funcinpec, NRP set to merge|date=25 May 2012|access-date=12 February 2015|work=Phnom Penh Post}}</ref> The merger agreement fell apart as Nhek Bun Chhay and Ranariddh accused each other of thinking about supporting other opposition parties.<ref>{{cite web|author=Meas Sokchea|url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/royalist-merger-shaken-again|title=Royalist merger shaken again|date=19 June 2012|access-date=12 February 2015|work=Phnom Penh Post}}</ref> Subsequently, in March 2013, Nhek Bun Chhay was succeeded by [[Norodom Arunrasmy]] as the party's president, who in turn resumed his former role as the party's secretary-general.<ref>{{cite web |author=Fu Peng |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2013-03/23/c_132256666.htm |title=Daughter of late King Sihanouk officially leads royalist party to contest in July's polls |date=23 March 2013 |access-date=12 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207113230/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2013-03/23/c_132256666.htm |archive-date=7 February 2017 |work=Xinhua |url-status=dead }}</ref> When [[2013 Cambodian general election|general elections]] were held in July 2013, FUNCINPEC suffered defeat as it lost its remaining two seats which it held in the National Assembly. In turn, Nhek Bun Chhay relinquished his Deputy Prime Minister position and was made a government adviser,<ref>{{cite web|author=May Titthara|url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cpp-keeps-funcinpec-close-despite-no-seats|title=CPP keeps Funcinpec close, despite no seats|date=16 October 2013|access-date=13 February 2016|work=Phnom Penh Post}}</ref> although the CPP-led government appointed 28 FUNCINPEC members as undersecretaries of state.<ref>{{cite web|author=Meas Sokchea|url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/funcinpec-enters-fray|title=Funcinpec enters fray|date=5 November 2013|access-date=13 February 2016|work=Phnom Penh Post}}</ref>

===Ranariddh's return===

In early January 2015, Ranariddh expressed his intent to return to FUNCINPEC.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Chhay Channyda |author2=Pech Sotheary |url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/going-back-his-roots |title=Going back to his roots |date=2 January 2015 |access-date=8 September 2015 |work=[[Phnom Penh Post]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304100823/http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/going-back-his-roots |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> At the party congress held on 19 January 2015, Ranariddh was reappointed as FUNCINPEC president, succeeding Arunrasmy who was appointed as its first vice-president, while Nhek Bun Chhay was appointed as second vice-president.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Mech Dara |author2=Alex Willemyns |url=https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/ranariddh-named-funcinpec-president-again-76397/ |title=Ranariddh Named Funcinpec President—Again |work=[[The Cambodia Daily]] |date=20 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150804172500/https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/ranariddh-named-funcinpec-president-again-76397/ |archive-date=4 August 2015 |access-date=18 February 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Rifts between Nhek Bun Chhay and Ranariddh quickly surfaced as the both of them sparred with each other over the right to use the party stamp<ref>{{cite web|author=HUL REAKSMEY AND ALEX WILLEMYNS|url=https://www.cambodiadaily.com/archives/funcinpec-factions-war-over-who-can-issue-official-letters-78506/|title=Funcinpec Factions War Over Who Can Issue Official Letters|work=[[The Cambodia Daily]]|date=23 February 2015|access-date=13 February 2016|archive-date=16 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216112317/https://www.cambodiadaily.com/archives/funcinpec-factions-war-over-who-can-issue-official-letters-78506/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the appointment of Say Hak as the party's secretary general.<ref>{{cite web|author=MECH DARA|url=https://www.cambodiadaily.com/archives/funcinpec-partys-feud-over-secretary-general-post-continues-78633/|title=Funcinpec Party's Feud Over Secretary-General Post Continues|work=[[The Cambodia Daily]]|date=25 February 2015|access-date=13 February 2016|archive-date=16 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216122028/https://www.cambodiadaily.com/archives/funcinpec-partys-feud-over-secretary-general-post-continues-78633/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Ranariddh eventually gained the upper hand, and Say Hak's appointment was reaffirmed at another party congress held in March 2015. He also managed to convince party delegates present at the congress to adopt a new party logo.<ref>{{cite web |author=Kang Sothear |url=https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/prince-ranariddh-wins-funcinpec-power-struggle-79690/ |title=Prince Ranariddh Wins Funcinpec Power Struggle |work=[[The Cambodia Daily]] |date=13 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150813133852/https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/prince-ranariddh-wins-funcinpec-power-struggle-79690/ |archive-date=13 August 2015 |access-date=4 June 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> At the same time, Ranariddh appointed four more vice-presidents to the party's executive committee, namely You Hockry, Por Bun Sreu, Nuth Sokhom and Nhep Bun Chin.<ref>{{cite web |author=Meas Sokchea |url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/funcinpec-goes-gold |title=Funcinpec goes for the gold |date=13 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150818084203/http://www.phnompenhpost.com/funcinpec-goes-gold |archive-date=18 August 2015 |access-date=4 June 2015 |work=Phnom Penh Post |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In July 2015, FUNCINPEC announced the formation of the Cambodian Royalist Youth Movement, a youth organisation aimed at garnering electoral support for the party from [[Youth politics|younger voters]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Hul Reaksmey |url=http://www.voacambodia.com/content/royalist-party-forms-youth-movement/2880168.html |title=Royalist Party Forms 'Youth Movement' |date=27 July 2015 |access-date=1 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151215172324/http://www.voacambodia.com/content/royalist-party-forms-youth-movement/2880168.html |archive-date=15 December 2015 |work=VOA Cambodia |url-status=dead }}</ref> Meanwhile, tension persisted between Nhek Bun Chhay and Ranariddh, which erupted into a public spat, as Ranariddh threatened to expelled Nhek Bun Chhay who in turn, accused the party president of holding a grudge against him.<ref>{{cite web |author=Ros Chanveasna |url=http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/20816/back-as-funcinpec-president--ranariddh-looks-to-oust-an-old-enemy/ |title=Back as Funcinpec President, Ranariddh Looks to Oust an Old Enemy |date=31 January 2016 |access-date=13 February 2016 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6fGW9eOsE?url=http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/20816/back-as-funcinpec-president--ranariddh-looks-to-oust-an-old-enemy/ |archive-date=13 February 2016 |work=Khmer Times |url-status=dead }}</ref> Subsequently, on 3 February 2016, Nhek Bun Chhay announced that he was quitting the party, and went on to form his new party, the [[Khmer National United Party]] (KNUP). The KNUP adopted a logo which was similar to a former logo of FUNCINPEC, featuring the [[Independence Monument (Cambodia)|Cambodian Independence Monument]].<ref>{{cite web |author=KHUON NARIM |url=https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/ex-military-commander-leaves-prince-launches-new-party-107408/ |title=Ex-Military Commander Leaves Prince, Launches New Party |work=[[The Cambodia Daily]] |date=4 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205092401/https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/ex-military-commander-leaves-prince-launches-new-party-107408/ |archive-date=5 February 2016 |access-date=13 February 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The secretary-general, Say Hak accepted Nhek Bun Chhay's resignation, while at the same time challenged KNUP's use of its new logo<ref>{{cite web |author=Vong Sokheng |url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/bun-chhay-can-leave-logo-stays-funcinpec |title=Bun Chhay can leave, logo stays: Funcinpec |date=5 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206082737/http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/bun-chhay-can-leave-logo-stays-funcinpec |archive-date=6 February 2016 |access-date=13 February 2016 |work=Phnom Penh Post |url-status=dead }}</ref> as he lodged a successful complaint with the interior ministry.<ref>{{cite web |author=KHUON NARIM |url=https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/new-logo-nhek-bun-chhay-presses-ahead-party-plans-108415/ |title=With New Logo, Nhek Bun Chhay Presses Ahead With Party Plans |work=[[The Cambodia Daily]] |date=13 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160214083739/https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/new-logo-nhek-bun-chhay-presses-ahead-party-plans-108415/ |archive-date=14 February 2016 |access-date=13 February 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

FUNCINPEC declared on 1 June 2017 that it is open to legalizing [[same-sex marriage]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/parties-open-gay-marriage|title=Parties open to gay marriage|first=Pang|last=Vichea|date=1 June 2017|website=phnompenhpost.com|access-date=18 April 2018}}</ref> The party came runners-up to the [[Cambodian People's Party]] in the [[2018 Cambodian general election|2018 general election]] but did not win any seats in  a vote described by multiple observers as a "formality".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/08/hun-sen-cpp-wins-parliamentary-seats-cambodia-election-180815135109639.html |title=Hun Sen's CPP wins all parliamentary seats in Cambodia election |publisher=[[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]] |date=15 August 2018 |access-date=17 August 2018}}</ref>

==Military==
[[Image:Ranariddh Sihanouk.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Norodom Sihanouk with his son and ANS commander-in-chief, Norodom Ranariddh during an ANS inspection tour during the 1980s.]]

FUNCINPEC had its own military forces, which was first known as the [[Sihanouk National Army|Armee Nationale Sihanoukiste]] (ANS) when it was formed on 4 September 1982.<ref name="Mehta69"/> The ANS was an amalgamation of several armed resistance movements that have pledged alliances with Sihanouk. They consisted of MOULINAKA, Kleang Moeung, Oddar Tus and Khmer Angkor, giving the ANS a combined strength of 7,000 troops.<ref>Im (2005), p. 89</ref> [[In Tam]], a former Prime Minister of the [[Khmer Republic]], was appointed as the Commander-in-chief of the ANS in its founding year. In the initial years of after its formation, the ANS received weapons and equipment from China, as well as medical supplies and combat training for its troops from Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.<ref>Mehta (2001), p. 68</ref> At the same time, the ANS regularly faced attacks from the Khmer Rouge forces until 1987, suffering heavy casualties as a result.<ref>Mehta (2001), p. 75</ref>

In March 1985, Sihanouk appointed one of his sons, [[Norodom Chakrapong]] as the deputy chief-of-staff of ANS.<ref name="Mehta73"/> The following January, Sihanouk appointed another son, [[Norodom Ranariddh]] as the ANS chief-of-staff. Ranariddh was also made the Commander-in-chief of the ANS, replacing In Tam.<ref>Mehta (2001), p. 184</ref> When the Paris Peace Accords were signed in 1991, the ANS had a total of 17,500 troops under its command,<ref>Widyono (2008), p. 76</ref> although it was reduced to 14,000 after the UNTAC attempted a demobilisation exercise that lasted between May and September 1992.<ref>Widyono (2008), p. 78</ref> In 1993, the ANS was amalgamated into the [[Royal Cambodian Armed Forces]] (RCAF), together with the Cambodian People's Armed Forces (CPAF) and KPNLF armed forces, under UNTAC supervision.<ref name="Widyono 2008, p. 130"/> Troops from each of the three armies retained respective factional loyalties to their former resistance affiliations.<ref>Widyono (2008), p. 147</ref> The ex-ANS troops came under the command of General [[Nhek Bun Chhay]],<ref>Peou (2000), p. 294</ref> who served as the deputy chief of staff for the RCAF between 1993 and 1997.<ref>Sané (1998), p. 5</ref>

In the years between 1993 till 1996, the Cambodian defence ministry attempted to integrate the different factions together, but were unsuccessful.<ref>Peou (2000), p. 347</ref> In a dossier written by Nhek Bun Chhay around mid-1997, there were 80,800 pro-FUNCINPEC troops, which were divided into 11 battalions across the country. Nhek also express concern of the inferior troop strength of the pro-FUNCINPEC forces, as they were slightly outnumbered compared to 90,000 pro-CPP troops.<ref name="Peou 2000, p. 351">Peou (2000), p. 351</ref> In November 1996, armed skirmishes occurred between RCAF troops separately aligned to CPP and FUNCINPEC, after a pro-CPP general, Keo Pong accused a pro-FUNCINPEC general, Serey Kosal of attempting to kill him, who in turn accused Keo Pong of recruiting Khmer Rouge defectors into his ranks. More armed skirmishes broke out until February 1997, leaving 14 pro-CPP and 2 pro-FUNCINPEC troops wounded.<ref>Peou (2000), p. 348</ref> Subsequently, Ke Kim Yan, the chief-of-staff of the RCAF stepped in to meditate the conflict, and a directive was issued to prohibit movement of troops without the explicit permission of the government.<ref name="Peou349">Peou (2000), p. 349</ref> In late March 1997, the two co-defense ministers, [[Tea Banh]] of the CPP and Tea Chamrath of FUNCINPEC, together with Ke Kim Yan and Nhek Bun Chhay formed a bipartisan defence committee was formed to prevent the RCAF from getting embroiled into the political conflict between Ranariddh and Hun Sen.<ref name="Peou349"/>

While the defence committee formed, the Cambodian media reported continued unusual troop movements<ref>Widyono (2008), p. 244</ref> positioning themselves in Phnom Penh, and minor skirmishes between troops from both sides occurred sporadically until June 1997.<ref>Widyono (2008), p. 253</ref> On 4 July 1997, Nhek Bun Chhay signed a military pact with the Khmer Rouge at Anlong Veng,<ref name="Peou352">Peou (2000), p. 352</ref> prompting pro-CPP troops to strike their pro-FUNCINPEC counterparts the following day.<ref name="Peou298"/> Violent clashes erupted between pro-CPP and pro-FUNCINPEC forces at FUNCINPEC headquarters, [[Pochentong Airport]] and Ranariddh's residence in Phnom Penh.<ref>Widyono (2008), p. 255</ref> The pro-FUNCINPEC forces, led by Nhek Bun Chhay initially gained an advantage as they were able to control up to half of the city,<ref>Widyono (2008), p. 257</ref> but were soon overwhelmed and defeated the following day after pro-CPP forces sent in additional troops.<ref>Widyono (2008), p. 258</ref> Over the next three days, pro-CPP troops arrested and several at least 33 pro-FUNCINPEC senior military officers.<ref>Peou (2000), p. 304</ref> Among those who were executed included Ly Seng Hong, deputy chief-of-staff of RCAF; Ho Sok, secretary of state of the Interior Ministry and Chao Sambath, deputy chief of the espionage and military intelligence department of RCAF.<ref>Peou (2000), p. 305</ref>

In subsequent days after the clashes, pro-CPP troops continued their military offensives against pro-FUNCINPEC troops in the northwestern parts of Cambodia, which controlled the towns of [[Sisophon]], [[Banteay Meanchey]] and [[Poipet]]. The pro-FUNCINPEC troops, who were outmatched against their pro-CPP counterparts,<ref name="Peou 2000, p. 351"/> retreated to [[O Smach]] in [[Oddar Meanchey Province]], where they held out against pro-CPP troops which continued military offensives against them. At O Smach, pro-FUNCINPEC forces met the Khmer Rouge forces led by Khieu Samphan, who proclaimed Nhek Bun Chhay as the chief-of-staff of the resistance forces.<ref name="Peou352"/> Fighting continued between pro-CPP and pro-FUNCINPEC troops until February 1998, when both sides agreed to a ceasefire brokered by the [[Japan]]ese government.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Stew Magnuson |author2=Kimsan Chantara |url=https://www.cambodiadaily.com/archives/govt-resistance-agree-to-cease-fire-86373/ |title=Gov't, Resistance Agree to Cease-fire |date=28 February 1998 |access-date=17 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130013142/https://www.cambodiadaily.com/archives/govt-resistance-agree-to-cease-fire-86373/ |archive-date=30 January 2016 |work=The Cambodia Daily |url-status=dead}}</ref> After general elections were held in July 1998, Nhek Bun Chhay called for the 20,000 pro-FUNCINPEC forces to be reintegrated into the RCAF. Subsequently, Nhek Bun Chhay left O Smach, returned to Phnom Penh<ref>Peou (2000), p. 355</ref> and was appointed as a senator.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Bou Saroeun |author2=Peter Sainsbury |url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/nhek-bun-chhay-mystified-attack-wife-and-home|title=Nhek Bun Chhay mystified by attack on wife and home|date=1 October 1999|access-date=17 January 2016|work=Phnom Penh Post}}</ref> Khan Savoeun, a former subordinate of Nhek Bun Chhay, was subsequently appointed as one of the four deputy commander-in-chief of the RCAF in February 1999.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Michael Hayes |author2=Bou Saroeun |url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cpp-control-rcaf-major-reforms-promised|title=CPP in control of RCAF, major reforms promised|date=5 February 1999|access-date=17 January 2016|work=Phnom Penh Post}}</ref>

==List of party presidents==
{{legend|#E6E6AA|Denotes Acting President of FUNCINPEC}}
{| class="sortable wikitable"
! No.
! Image
! Name<br>{{small|(birth-death)}}
! Term of office
|-
! 1
| [[File:Norodom Sihanouk (1983).jpg|100px]]
| [[Norodom Sihanouk]]<br>{{small|(1922–2012)}}
| 1981–1989
|-
! 2
| [[File:Nhiek Tioulong.jpg|100px]]
| [[Nhiek Tioulong]]<br>{{small|(1908–1996)}}
| 1989–1992
|-
! 3
| [[File:Ranariddh 1990s.jpg|100px]]
| [[Norodom Ranariddh]]<br>{{small|(1944–2021)}}
| 1992–2006
|-
! 4
| [[File:FUNCINPEC logo.png|100px]]
| [[Keo Puth Rasmey]]<br>{{small|(1952–)}}
| 2006–2011
|-
! 5
| [[File:Nhek Bun Chhay.jpg|100px]]
| [[Nhek Bun Chhay]]<br>{{small|(1956–)}}
| 2011–2013
|-
! 6
| [[File:Norodom Arunrasmy (cropped).jpg|100px]]
| [[Norodom Arunrasmy]]<br>{{small|(1955–)}}
| 2013–2015
|-
! (3)
| [[File:Norodom Ranariddh (2014).jpg|100px]]
| [[Norodom Ranariddh]]<br>{{small|(1944–2021)}}
| 2015–2021{{efn|died in office}}
|-
! –
| rowspan="2"| [[File:Prince Norodom Chakravuth addresses party (cropped).jpg|100px]]
| rowspan="2"| [[Norodom Chakravuth]]<br>{{small|(1970–)}}
| style="background:#E6E6AA;"| 2021
|-
! 7
| 2021–present
|}

==Select election results==

===General===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan=2| Election
! rowspan=2| Leader
! colspan=3| Votes
! colspan=2| Seats
! rowspan=2| Position
! rowspan=2| Government
|-
! #
! %
! ±
! #
! ±
|-
![[1993 Cambodian general election|1993]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/arc/2051_93.htm|title=Election 1993}}</ref>
| rowspan="3" | [[Norodom Ranariddh]]
| 1,824,188
| 45.5
| ''New''
| {{Composition bar|58|120|hex={{party color|FUNCINPEC}}}}
| ''New''
| {{increase}} 1st
| {{yes2|FUNCINPEC–[[Cambodian People's Party|CPP]]–[[Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party|BLDP]]}}
|-
![[1998 Cambodian general election|1998]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/arc/2051_98.htm|title=Election 1998}}</ref>
| 1,554,405
| 31.7
| {{decrease}}13.8
| {{Composition bar|43|122|hex={{party color|FUNCINPEC}}}}
| {{decrease}}15
| {{decrease}} 2nd
| {{yes2|CPP–FUNCINPEC}}
|-
![[2003 Cambodian general election|2003]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/arc/2051_03.htm|title=Election 2003}}</ref>
| 1,072,313
| 20.7
| {{decrease}}11.0
| {{Composition bar|26|123|hex={{party color|FUNCINPEC}}}}
| {{decrease}}17
| {{steady}} 2nd
| {{yes2|CPP–FUNCINPEC}}
|-
![[2008 Cambodian general election|2008]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/arc/2051_08.htm|title=Election 2008}}</ref>
| [[Keo Puth Rasmey]]
| 303,764
| 5.0
| {{decrease}}15.7
| {{Composition bar|2|123|hex={{party color|FUNCINPEC}}}}
| {{decrease}}24
| {{decrease}} 5th
| {{yes2|CPP–FUNCINPEC}}
|-
![[2013 Cambodian general election|2013]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2051_E.htm|title=Election 2013}}</ref>
| [[Norodom Arunrasmy]]
| 242,413
| 3.7
| {{decrease}}1.3
| {{Composition bar|0|123|hex={{party color|FUNCINPEC}}}}
| {{decrease}}2
| {{increase}} 3rd
| {{no2|CPP}}
|-
![[2018 Cambodian general election|2018]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.necelect.org.kh/khmer/content/3463|title=Election 2018|access-date=2018-07-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731031816/https://www.necelect.org.kh/khmer/content/3463|archive-date=2018-07-31|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| [[Norodom Ranariddh]]
| 374,510
| 5.9
| {{increase}}2.2
| {{Composition bar|0|125|hex={{party color|FUNCINPEC}}}}
| {{steady}}
| {{increase}} 2nd
| {{no2|CPP}}
|-
![[2023 Cambodian general election|2023]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501331750/nec-announces-preliminary-vote-count-for-national-election/|title=NEC announces preliminary vote count for national election|work=[[Khmer Times]]|date=27 July 2023|accessdate=27 July 2023}}</ref>
| [[Norodom Chakravuth]]
| 716,443
| 9.2
| {{increase}} 3.3
| {{Composition bar|5|125|hex={{party color|FUNCINPEC}}}}
| {{increase}} 5
| {{steady}} 2nd
| {{partial2|CPP}}
|-
|}

===Communal===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan=2| Election
! rowspan=2| Leader
! colspan=3| Votes
! colspan=2| [[List of communes in Cambodia|Chiefs]]
! colspan=2| [[Commune Council (Cambodia)|Councillors]]
! rowspan=2| Position
|-
! #
! %
! ±
! #
! ±
! #
! ±
|-
! [[2002 Cambodian communal elections|2002]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://docs.google.com/viewerng/viewer?url=https://comfrel.org/english/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/33_Result_Report_2002_Commune_Council_Election_in_Cambodia_COMFREL_2002_En_Final.pdf |title=Report on the Commune Council Elections – 3 February 2002 |date=March 2002 |publisher=Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL) |website=comfrel.org |access-date=4 September 2018}}</ref>
| [[Norodom Ranariddh]]
| 955,200
| 22.0
| ''New''
| {{Composition bar|10|1621|hex={{party color|FUNCINPEC}}}}
| ''New''
| {{Composition bar|2194|11261|hex={{party color|FUNCINPEC}}}}
| ''New''
| {{increase}} 2nd
|-
! [[2007 Cambodian communal elections|2007]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://docs.google.com/viewerng/viewer?url=https://comfrel.org/english/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/31_COMFREL_CCE_Final_Report_New.pdf |title=Final Assessment and Report on 2007 Commune Council Elections |date=1 April 2007 |publisher=Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL) |website=comfrel.org |access-date=4 September 2018}}</ref>
| [[Keo Puth Rasmey]]
| 277,545
| 5.4
| {{decrease}} 16.6
| {{Composition bar|2|1621|hex={{party color|FUNCINPEC}}}}
| {{decrease}} 8
| {{Composition bar|274|11353|hex={{party color|FUNCINPEC}}}}
| {{decrease}} 1,920
| {{decrease}} 3rd
|-
! [[2012 Cambodian communal elections|2012]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://docs.google.com/viewerng/viewer?url=https://comfrel.org/english/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/28_Final_Report_Commune_Elections_2012_Final_Final_06_11_2012.pdf |title=Final Assessment and Report on 2012 Commune Council Elections |date=October 2012 |publisher=Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL) |website=comfrel.org |access-date=4 September 2018}}</ref>
| [[Nhek Bun Chhay]]
| 222,663
| 3.8
| {{decrease}} 1.6
| {{Composition bar|1|1633|hex={{party color|FUNCINPEC}}}}
| {{decrease}} 1
| {{Composition bar|151|11459|hex={{party color|FUNCINPEC}}}}
| {{decrease}} 123
| {{decrease}} 4th
|-
! [[2017 Cambodian communal elections|2017]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://docs.google.com/viewerng/viewer?url=https://comfrel.org/english/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/275_Final-Assessment-and-Report-on-the-2017-Commune-Council-Elections-in-English-Version.pdf |title=Final Assessment and Report on 2017 Commune Council Elections |date=October 2017 |publisher=Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL) |website=comfrel.org |access-date=4 September 2018}}</ref>
| [[Norodom Ranariddh]]
| 132,319
| 1.9
| {{decrease}} 1.9
| {{Composition bar|0|1646|hex={{party color|FUNCINPEC}}}}
| {{decrease}} 1
| {{Composition bar|28|11572|hex={{party color|FUNCINPEC}}}}
| {{decrease}} 123
| {{increase}} 3rd
|-
! [[2022 Cambodian communal elections|2022]]
| [[Norodom Chakravuth]]
| 91,798
| 1.3
| {{decrease}} 0.6
| {{Composition bar|0|1652|hex={{party color|FUNCINPEC}}}}
| {{steady}}
| {{Composition bar|19|11622|hex={{party color|FUNCINPEC}}}}
| {{decrease}} 9
| {{steady}} 3rd
|}

===Senatorial===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan="2" |'''Election'''
! colspan="3" | Votes
! colspan="2" | Seats
! rowspan="2" | Position
! rowspan="2" | Outcome
|-
! #
! %
! ±
! #
! ±
|-
![[2006 Cambodian Senate election|2006]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/arc/2365_06.htm|title=Election 2006}}</ref>
| 2,320
| 20.4
|—
|{{Composition bar|10|61|hex={{party color|FUNCINPEC}}}}
|{{decrease}}11
|{{steady}} 2nd
| {{no2|Minority}}
|-
![[2012 Cambodian Senate election|2012]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2365_12.htm|title=Election 2012}}</ref>
| 0
| 0.0
|{{decrease}}20.4
|{{Composition bar|0|61|hex={{party color|FUNCINPEC}}}}
|{{decrease}}10
|{{N/A}}
|''Not represented''
|-
![[2018 Cambodian Senate election|2018]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2365_E.htm|title=Election 2018}}</ref>
| 276
| 2.4
|{{increase}}2.4
|{{Composition bar|2|62|hex={{party color|FUNCINPEC}}}}
|{{increase}}2
|{{increase}} 2nd
|{{no2|Minority}}
|-
|}

==See also ==
*[[:Category:FUNCINPEC politicians]]
*[[1959 Cambodian coup attempt]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
{{notelist}}

==Bibliography==
===Books===
*{{cite book|author=Hughes, Caroline|title=UNTAC in Cambodia: The Impact on Human Rights|year=1996|publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian Studies|location=Singapore|isbn=9813055235}}
*{{cite book|author=Findlay, Trevor|title=Cambodia – The Legacy and Lessons of UNTAC–SIPRI Research Report No. 9|url=http://books.sipri.org/files/RR/SIPRIRR09.pdf|year=1995|series=Stockholm International Peace Research Institute|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=Solna, Sweden|isbn=0198291868|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805051550/http://books.sipri.org/files/RR/SIPRIRR09.pdf|archive-date=2009-08-05}}
*{{cite book|author=Im, François|title=La question cambodgienne dans les relations internationales de 1979 à 1993|year=2005|publisher=Atelier national de reproduction des thèses|location=France|isbn=2284049060}}
*{{cite book|author=Jeldres, Julio A|title=Volume 1–Shadows Over Angkor: Memoirs of His Majesty King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia|year=2005|publisher=Monument Books|location=Phnom Penh Cambodia|isbn=974926486X}}
*{{cite book|title=Propaganda, Politics and Violence in Cambodia: Democratic Transition Under United Nations Peace-Keeping|author1=Heder, Stepher R.|author2=Ledgerwood, Julie|year=1995|publisher=[[M.E. Sharpe]]|location=United States of America|isbn=0765631741}}
*{{cite book|author1=Mehta, Harish C.|author2=Julie B.|title=Strongman: The Extraordinary Life of Hun Sen: The Extraordinary Life of Hun Sen|year=2013|publisher=Marshall Cavendish International Asia Pte Ltd|location=Singapore|isbn=978-9814484602}}
*{{cite book|author=Mehta, Harish C.|title=Warrior Prince: Norodom Ranariddh, Son of King Sihanouk of Cambodia|year=2001|publisher=Graham Brash|location=Singapore|isbn=9812180869}}
*{{cite book|author=Peou, Sorpong|title=Intervention and Change in Cambodia: Towards Democracy?|year=2000|publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian Studies|location=[[National University of Singapore]]|isbn=9812300422}}
*{{cite book|author=Strangio, Sebastian|title=Hun Sen's Cambodia|year=2014|location=[[New Haven, Connecticut]]|publisher=[[Yale University Press]]|isbn=978-0300210149}}
*{{cite book|author=Summers, Laura|title=The Far East and Australasia 2003|pages=227–243|year=2003|location=New York|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=1857431332}}
*{{cite book|author=Widyono, Benny|title=Dancing in Shadows: Sihanouk, the Khmer Rouge, and the United Nations in Cambodia|year=2008|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|location=Lanham, Maryland, United States of America|isbn=978-0742555532}}

===Reports===
*{{cite web|author=[[Pierre Sané|Sané, Pierre]]|url=http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/3ae6a992c.pdf|title=Kingdom of Cambodia – Human rights at stake|date=23 April 1998|publisher=Amnesty International|access-date=18 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222121646/http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/3ae6a992c.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2015-12-22}}
*{{cite journal|last=Secretariat of the United Nations|date=23 October 1991|title=Treaties and international agreements registered or filed and recorded with the Secretariat of the United Nations–No. 28613. Multilateral|url=https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/UNTS/Volume%201663/v1663.pdf|journal=Treaty Series – Treaties and International Agreements Registered or Filed and Recorded with the Secretariat of the United Nations|publisher=United Nations|volume=1663|issue=28609–28619|access-date=8 July 2015}}
{{Cambodian political parties}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1981 establishments in Cambodia]]
[[Category:Classical liberal parties]]
[[Category:Conservative parties in Cambodia]]
[[Category:Factions of the Third Indochina War]]
[[Category:Liberal parties in Cambodia]]
[[Category:Monarchist parties in Cambodia]]
[[Category:Nationalist parties in Cambodia]]
[[Category:Political history of Cambodia]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1981]]
[[Category:Political parties in Cambodia]]
[[Category:Cambodian–Vietnamese War]]
[[Category:Norodom Sihanouk]]