PHNOM PENH, March 11- Cambodian late former King Norodom Sihanouk’s son, Prince Norodom Ranariddh(pic), has denied he would return to politics.
Local media said Sunday the prince would join the newly-formed opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) as honorary president and lawmaker-candidate in the parliamentary elections on July 28.
“It is untrue that the prince will return to politics,” Pen Sangha, a close official to Prince Norodom Ranariddh, told Xinhua news agency.
“The prince has not wished to join the opposition party. It is a rumour that he will be elected as honorary president of the opposition party next month.”
Prince Norodom Ranariddh is currently president of the Supreme Privy Advisory Council to King Norodom Sihamoni.
The prince was former co-prime minister and ex-president of the National Assembly of Cambodia. He declared to quit politics in October 2008 after receiving a royal pardon on fraud charges.
The prince re-entered politics in December 2010 and once again quit politics in last August due to internal conflicts in his Norodom Ranariddh Party.
BERNAMA
