Cambodian PM Hands Over Power to His Son After 40 Years On Duty

Cambodia – Hun Sen has been Cambodia's autocratic prime minister for nearly four decades, during which the opposition has been stifled and the country has grown increasingly close to China. 

The Cambodian People's Party (CPP), led by Prime Minister Hun Sen has won 120 of the 125 seats available in the election on Sunday, according to preliminary results.

The CPP's victory was possible without competitors, as opposition parties are banned from taking part in the election.

Hun Sen, who has been in power for 38 years, has said he plans to hand over the premiership to his eldest son, Hun Manet, who is a Cambodian military commander and won his first parliamentary seat on Sunday.

This hands over of power is part of what is expected to be a generational change for the CPP.

While it is unclear exactly when Hun Manet will take power, Hun Sen suggested the transition could take place as early as next month.

On his Facebook page on Monday, July 24, 2023, Hun Manet said that the election results showed that "the Cambodian people have clearly expressed their will through the vote." 

He thanked Cambodians for their "love and trust in the CPP" and promised that the party would "continue to serve Cambodia and the Cambodian people better and better."

It is likely that before the end of August, the leadership of the Cambodian government will be replaced by younger officials, most of whom are children or relatives of ruling party officials.

The CPP first took power in 1979, after a group of Khmer Rouge defectors, including PM Hun Sen, returned with the Vietnamese military to overthrow the genocidal regime.

Hun Sen was appointed prime minister in 1985, making him the world's longest-serving head of government.

In addition to Hun Manet who will inherit his father's post, the sons of Interior Minister Sar Kheng and Defense Minister Tea Banh, are also expected to inherit their father's post.

At least two-thirds of the cabinet, known as the Council of Ministers, will make way for younger officials, while several deputy prime ministers and ministers without portfolios will also be overhauled, according to internal candidate lists leaked earlier this year.