Cambodia’s new parliament voted to confirm the dynastic transmission of power between Hun Sen and his son Hun Manet on Tuesday, August 22. The latter had largely won the last controversial legislative elections.
By July 23, the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) had won 120 of the 125 seats in the National Assembly. The ballot had been considerably decried, after the main opposition force, the Party of the candle, had been removed from it. A few days later, 71-year-old Hun Sen announced that he was stepping down as prime minister in favor of his eldest son. Mr. Hun served thirty-eight years in government: thirty-three as prime minister and five years as deputy prime minister (from 1993 to 1998).
The Dean of the Assembly announced Tuesday morning the election without surprise of the eldest son of Hun Sen, with almost unanimous voting, or 123 votes out of 125, confirming the victory of his party in the legislative elections last month. “This is a historic day for Cambodia,” the new leader said in an address to MPs.
He claimed that the July elections had been “free, fair, equitable and transparent, and promised that his government would “accelerate reforms” to make the country a prosperous nation”. He hailed the “heroism” his father had shown in saving the country from the Khmer Rouge.
Younger brother appointed minister of public service
The King of Cambodia, Norodom Sihamoni, whose role is largely symbolic, opened the inaugural session of the new Parliament on Monday and congratulated the deputies, as well as Hun Manet, dressed in traditional clothes.
Hun Many, Hun Manet’s younger brother, becomes civil service minister, while sons of interior and defense ministers will take over their fathers’ posts, according to a draft list of new cabinet members seen by Agence France-Presse. Hun Sen’s nephew, Neth Savœun, current chief of the national police, will be deputy prime minister.
The United States, the United Nations and the European Union condemned last month’s elections, calling them neither free nor fair. Former Khmer Rouge cadre Hun Sen, in government since 1985, railed against international criticism of the unopposed elections and said handing over to his son would avoid a “bloodbath for himself”. seize power” upon his death.
He also warned that if his son’s life were to be endangered, then he would become Prime Minister again. “I am not retiring from political life yet,” he said on Tuesday, urging the new government to maintain peace and security.
Beijing ally
Hun Manet, 45, a four-star general, was already a member of the Standing Committee of the Cambodian People’s Party and has led the Royal Cambodian Army since 2018. In this capacity, he has already met with major foreign leaders, including the Chinese president , Xi Jinping, a valuable ally.
Holder of a doctorate in economics from the University of Bristol, in Great Britain, he was the first Cambodian to graduate from the American military academy at West Point, from which he graduated in 1999. But his international career does not guarantee not necessarily a liberal approach or a change from his father’s authoritarian ways.
Cambodia has become one of Beijing’s main allies in the region under Hun Sen’s leadership, receiving significant Chinese investment.
Hun Sen plans to become Senate Speaker early next year, number two in the ceremonial order after the King, whom he will replace as head of state when the latter takes office. stranger. He said he would continue to hold other positions until at least 2033.
