Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party Explained

Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party
Native Name:Central Khmer: គណបក្សប្រជាធិបតេយ្យសេរីនិយមព្រះពុទ្ធសាសនា
Colorcode:orange
Leader:Son Sann
Foundation:1993
Dissolved:1997
Predecessor:Khmer People's National Liberation Front
Position:Centre-right
Ideology:Conservatism
Monarchism
Buddhist socialism
Religion:Theravada Buddhism
Country:Cambodia

The Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party (BLDP; Central Khmer: គណបក្សប្រជាធិបតេយ្យសេរីនិយមព្រះពុទ្ធសាសនា) was a Cambodian political party founded in 1993 by former Cambodian Prime Minister Son Sann. The BLDP was created as a successor to the Khmer People's National Liberation Front (KPNLF), an anti-communist group also started by Son Sann.[1] [2]

1993 Cambodian election

The BLDP won ten seats in the 1993 Cambodian election, and partnered in the resulting coalition government with the Funcinpec and the Cambodian People's Party.[1]

Split

Rivalry between Son Sann and fellow party leader Ieng Mouly led to a split within the party that resulted in its dissolution in 1997. In 1998, Ieng Mouly's faction formed the Buddhist Liberal Party, while Son Sann's supporters created the Son Sann Party. Both successor parties failed to capture even a single seat in the 1998 election. The BLDP was a founding body of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats.

General election results

ElectionLeader VotesSeatsPositionGovernment
%±±
1993152,764 3.83.8 10 3rd
1998Ieng Mouly45,8490.92.9 10 7th

Notes and References

  1. Book: Dictionary of the Modern Politics of Southeast Asia. 2013. Taylor & Francis. 9781135129385 .
  2. Book: Political Party Systems and Democratic Development in East and Southeast Asia: Southeast Asia. Ashgate. 1998.