The standing Committee of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) Central Committee have revised the party’s logo, with Prime Minister Hun Manet, recently elected as a party vice-president, now featured in profile on the large logo, alongside party president Hun Sen and honorary president Heng Samrin.

A December 17 announcement by the party said the updated logo will be used during the upcoming celebrations of the 45th anniversary of Victory over the Genocidal Regime on January 7, as well as for future elections.

CPP spokesman Sok Eysan said on December 18 that the changing of the logo was the result of a decision made by the party. 

He said it is not uncommon that logos are revamped, but acknowledged that some people may be sceptical, as they might not understand it.

“If there are a few reactions to the new logo, this would be perfectly normal in a democratic society, but that has no impact,” he said. 

He said there should be no concerns at all, because the CPP won a majority of support from the voting public in the recent elections, and the party always places the national interests at the top of its priorities.

Thong Mengdavid, a research supervisor at the Asian Vision Institute (AVI), said he saw nothing wrong with the CPP altering their logo, noting that it was unlikely to cause any confusion in society.

He said any criticisms may come from opposition groups, who wish to provoke divisions within the CPP.

Manet was elected as one of five vice-presidents of the party on December 10, during the CPP’s recent two-day annual congress.