The saga of the Government’s legal actions against Candlelight party leader Thach Setha takes an odd twist. After a flurry of threats from PM Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party, some in the Candlelight leadership issued a statement “correcting” its accusations. The Candlelight grassroots are in no mood for kowtowing. They are the front line. They bear the brunt. Message to Candlelight leadership: you need us. The grassroots are right on their importance. If mobilized, the July 2023 General Election could be a tougher contest than usual. In horse race track lingo, who will be the “Bismarck?”