A total of 12 political parties have signed up to compete in the July polls, the National Election Committee said Monday, as the registration period ended.

The number was about half of those registered for other elections, due to a lack of money and time for small groups wishing to contest, said NEC Secretary-General Tep Nitha.

Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Kuy Bunroeun said Monday the commune councils had made registration a difficult process, hampering smaller parties.

Muth Chantha, spokesman for the Norodom Ranariddh Party, said some commune councils did not respect the law, eating up a lot of his party’s time.
 
The Sangkum Khmer Niym Party, whose application was the only one to be rejected, said it planned to appeal to the constitutional council.

Registration ran from April 18 to May 12; elections are slated for July 27.