July 26, One of the world’s longest serving leaders, Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia after ruling for almost four decades announced that he will resign in 3 weeks and will hand over the position of Prime Minister to his eldest son Hun Manet.
The Cambodian Prime Minister said on Wednesday that he would step down and will not continue as the Prime Minister. “Hun Manet will become the next prime minister in the coming weeks,” he stated in his nationally televised address following the controversial victory in National elections held on Sunday, 23rd July 2024, where Hun Manet won his first seat in the Parliament.
Moreover, Hun Sen declared the August schedule, “Hun Manet would be appointed as the new premier by the king on 10 August, The newly elected parliament would assemble on Aug 21 and the new premier would be confirmed with a vote by parliament along with the swearing ceremony of the new cabinet with many of top ministerial positions been taken over by the new generation, on Aug 22nd”.
Before delivering his speech about his son’s succession, Hun Sen held a meeting with King of Cambodia, Norodom Sihamoni in the morning. Later he said his son would be the next prime minister after getting approval from the king, after the final results of Sunday’s elections will be reported by the National Election Committee.
Further, He clarified that he will stay as the head of the ruling party and member of the National Assembly. Hun Sen’s involvement in Cambodia’s leadership is expected even after his son becomes the New Premier. He is also expected to become the president of the Senate of Cambodia.
Hun Sen, a former Khmer Rouge middle ranking commander has been the prime minister of Cambodia for nearly 4 decades since 1985. His reign is considered to be autocratic in a nominal democratic framework, where he uses undemocratic methods to maintain his authority. During his rule, the country has experienced an erosion of democracy with use of methods like banning parties except CPP, Eliminating opposition leaders, No freedom of expression, etc. He is considered a ruthless politician responsible for the genocide in 1970s.
Hun Manet, 45, the son of former Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen, who is the next premier of Cambodia has a degree in economics from New York University and a Ph.D. from the University of Bristol, Hun Manet is a West Point graduate (U.S Military Academy)and currently serves as the chief of the Cambodian army. Despite his Western education, observers do not anticipate any significant policy changes, as his father has moved Cambodia closer to China in recent years. Hun Manet’s military career has been marked by steady promotions, culminating in his appointment as a four-star general in 2024.
No ‘free and fair ‘ elections in Cambodia
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s CPP won an overwhelming majority of 120 of the 125 seats in the recent election, which was held without significant opposition and has drawn comparisons to North Korea due to the dynastic succession to Hun Sen’s eldest son.
Ahead of the elections, The Candlelight Party that was seen as the only serious challenger was disqualified on a technicality basis in May. The Cambodian People’s Party controlled the Parliament while claiming 96% of seats in Parliament.
A leaked list of future cabinet appointments, which has not been verified, indicates that the sons of Sar Kheng and Tea Banh, the leaders of CPP are expected to take over their roles, as part of a wider generational transition within the CPP. The document suggests that 23 out of the 30 cabinet roles will be filled by new ministers, many of whom are the children of long-standing members of the CPP.
Hun Sen revealed that a group of senior CPP leaders, including National Assembly President Heng Samrin, Defense Minister Tea Banh, Interior Minister Sar Kheng, and Deputy Prime Minister Men Sam An have been appointed as advisers to the King.
Cambodia is ranked 150th out of 180 countries in Transparency International’s corruption perception index, with only Myanmar and North Korea ranking lower in Asia. Numerous opposition politicians in the premiership of Hun Sen have been imprisoned and found guilty during and the cases of law alteration prior to the recent election to prohibit any calls for voters to spoil their ballots are also seen. The CPP has the tendency to vanish out of their opposition by using the legal system to maintain their authority.
World’s reaction to Cambodia’s New Premier.
China expressed its approval of the recent election, with President Xi Jinping personally congratulating Hun Sen through a message. Moreover, Hun Sen has ensured that he will continue their close relationship with China that has brought both investment and controversy to the country.
The US has declared that the recent elections in Cambodia were unjust, citing a trend of intimidation and mistreatment towards the political opposition, media, and civil society. This has prevented the Cambodian people from having a say in their country’s future. US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller issued a statement on Monday, stating that the US is planning to impose visa restrictions on certain individuals who have undermined democracy, and will also suspend some aid programs.
The European Union expressed disappointment that the Candlelight Party was not included in the election and urged for the release of detained opposition members.
France, the former colonial power, stated that the exclusion of the Candlelight Party had a negative impact on the diversity of the election.
