REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PHNOM PENH -- Cambodian Prince Norodom Ranariddh, son of the beloved late monarch Norodom Sihanouk, officially inaugurated a newly-formed royalist party on Friday in order to prepare for the contest in the 2018's general election.

The inauguration of the Community of Royalist People Party (CRPP) was held at the party's headquarters in Russei Keo district in Phnom Penh with the participation of about 200 party members from various cities and provinces.

Addressing to the party activists, the 70-year-old prince called on royalists and Sihanoukists to unite by supporting his party.

"The CRPP will protect and restore the royal family through mobilizing royalists and Sihanoukist," he said. "We have to unite in order to serve the nation."

The prince has confidence that his new party will definitely win seats in the National Assembly in the 2018's general election.

Meanwhile, he also urged the ruling and opposition parties to resume negotiations over their post-election row for the sake of the nation.

"Now, it is almost one year since the election in July last year, but the two parties still cannot resolve their differences," he said.

The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party has boycotted parliament since the election, accusing the ruling Cambodian People's Party of Prime Minister Hun Sen of vote-rigging.

Ranariddh announced to return to politics in March after having quit it since 2012 due to an internal split in his previous party.

He is currently the president of the Supreme Privy Advisory Council to King Norodom Sihamoni, his half-brother.

The prince was former co-prime minister from 1993 to 1997 and ex-president of the National Assembly from 1998 to 2006.

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