Cambodia Ruler To Retire After Four Decades, Hand Over To His Son To Succeed Him

VAM News Update

According to BBC, Hun Sen, 70, said he is leaving his West Point-educated son Hun Manet to form a new government after the ruling party claimed a landslide election victory over the weekend.

Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen, one of the world’s longest-serving leaders, is set to retire after nearly four decades in the power.

According to BBC, Hun Sen, 70, said he is leaving his West Point-educated son Hun Manet to form a new government after the ruling party claimed a landslide election victory over the weekend.

Hun Sen while speaking during a televised address on Wednesday, said the situation in Cambodia would become unstable if he continued to stay in office and it’s “very necessary for a new cabinet of all young people” to assume control.

“The party has appointed the candidate as the PM and now he will become the Prime Minister in the coming weeks,” he said of his eldest son.

Hun Manet, 45, is a political novice who contested in elections for the first time following a career in the armed forces in which he rose through the ranks to become a four-star general.

He was among the children of the ruling elite serving in positions of power as the government transitions from the old guard to the new generation for the first time since a rebellion against the Khmer Rouge in 1979.

Preliminary results show the Cambodian People’s Party nearly swept the vote on Sunday, winning 120 of 125 seats up for grabs in the National Assembly, after the main opposition was barred from participating for a second time.

The vote was criticized by some western nations, and triggered the U.S. to impose visa restrictions on individuals “who undermined democracy and implemented a pause of certain foreign assistance programs.”

He first flagged a transition in 2021, but up to now no one knew exactly when it would take place.

His eldest son, Hun Manet, until recently the commander of the Royal Cambodian Army, has long been groomed for the role.

In his announcement, Hun Sen said his son would be appointed prime minister on 10 August.

“I would like to ask for understanding from the people as I announce that I will not continue as prime minister,” he said in a special broadcast on state television.