[6] The party believed in the strengthening of freedom and human rights, institution of free and fair elections, and defending Cambodia's "national integrity".

Party leader Kem Sokha was arrested in September 2017, after which the party was in danger of being dissolved, allegedly for being part of a foreign plot to overthrow Prime Minister Hun Sen.[7][8][9] The case was heard by the Supreme Court of Cambodia which is headed by Chief Justice Dith Munty, a member of the ruling CPP's permanent committee.

Charles Santiago, Chairman of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights, called this move "the final nail in the coffin for Cambodian democracy".

[11] As a result of the ruling, all CNRP office holders, including 489 commune chiefs and 55 MPs, lost their positions and had their seats allocated to other parties.

Majority Minority The CNRP's support base was in the urban populated areas; in rural villages whose livelihood is affected by the land grabbing crisis, and young post-Khmer Rouge baby boomers.