Khmer National United Party Explained

Registered:	14 March 2016^[1]
Country:	Cambodia
Khmer National United Party
Native Name:	គណបក្សរួបរួមជាតិខ្មែរ
Colorcode:	253285
Abbreviation:	KNUP (English) Central Khmer: ខ.រ.ជ (Khmer)
Founder:	Nhek Bun Chhay
Leader1 Title:	Leader
Leader1 Name:	Nhek Bun Chhay
Headquarters:	Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Foundation:	February 2016
Split:	FUNCINPEC
Ideology:	Royalism
Seats1 Title:	Senate
Seats3 Title:	Commune Chiefs
Seats4 Title:	Commune Council
Website:	https://www.knu-party.org (defunct)
Slogan:	"Central Khmer: ឯករាជ្យភាព សន្តិភាព យុត្តិធម៌" ("Independence, Peace, Justice") ^[2]

The Khmer National United Party (KNUP; Central Khmer: គណបក្សខ្មែររួបរួមជាតិ,, UNGEGN:,) is a Cambodian political party founded in February 2016 by Nhek Bun Chhay and former members of FUNCINPEC.^[3]

The party is open to legalizing same-sex marriage.^[4]

Attempts at merging back into FUNCINPEC

On September 13 and 18, 2019, senior officials of the KNUP and FUNCINPEC began discussion to merge the KNUP back into FUNCINPEC.^[5] KNUP spokesman Run Meatra said that senior officials of FUNCINPEC and the KNUP agreed to a merger on December 23, but both never went through with the decision.^[6]

On September 22, 2021, both parties discussed merging ahead of the upcoming commune elections.^[7] KNUP president Nhek Bun Chhay announced another merger between the two party after they both negotiated several times and resolved their own internal issues. However, due to a controversy regarding the leadership of a united party, the decision to merge never went ahead.^[8]

Recent electoral history

General election

Year	Party leader	Votes			Seats		Position	Government
			%	±		±
2018	Nhek Bun Chhay	99,377	1.56%	New		New	5th
2023		134,285	1.73%	0.17			3rd

Communal elections

Year	Party leader	Votes					Councillors		Position
			%	±		±		±
2017		78,724	1.13	New		New		New	5th
2022		63,868	0.88	0.27				11	4th

Senate election

Notes and References

1. News: Tola . Kang . 12 February 2022 . មានគណបក្សនយោបាយចំនួន៤៥ ត្រូវបានចុះបញ្ជីផ្លូវការនៅក្រសួងមហាផ្ទៃ . Kampuchea Thmey Daily . 26 May 2022.
2. https://www.facebook.com/knu.party/posts/1169468609836406/ គោលនយោបាយមូលដ្ឋាន ទាំង៩ចំណុច របស់គណបក្ស ខ្មែររួបរួមជាតិ។
3. Web site: Funcinpec Party Disintegrates, Yet Again. February 2, 2016.
4. Web site: Parties open to gay marriage. Touch. Sokha. www.phnompenhpost.com.
5. News: Sovuthy . Khy . 29 September 2019 . Funcinpec and KNUP discuss merging . Khmer Times . 26 May 2022.
6. News: Sovuthy . Khy . 2 December 2019 . Funcinpec, KNUP to merge this month . Khmer Times . 26 May 2022.
7. News: Samean . Lay . 23 September 2021 . Funcinpec and KNUP merge ahead of commune elections . The Phnom Penh Post . 26 May 2022.
8. News: Sokhean . Ben . 15 September 2021 . Wheel of misfortune: Funcinpec-KNUP re-unity and splits keep recurring . Khmer Times . 26 May 2022.