Hun Sen's son appointed Prime Minister

The King of Cambodia has signed a decree appointing Hun Manet, son of Hun Sen, as the country's new Prime Minister after the general election.

In a royal decree today, King Norodom Sihamoni "appointed Dr. Hun Manet as Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia for the 7th National Assembly," making him the successor of Mr. Hun Sen.

According to the decree, after being appointed by the king, Mr. Hun Manet, 45, will be responsible for forming a new government. He and his cabinet will have to pass a confidence vote in parliament on August 22.

Mr. Hun Manet during his visit to Japan in February 2022. Photo: Reuters — Mr. Hun Manet during his visit to Japan in February 2022. Photo: *Reuters*

Mr. Hun Manet was born on October 20, 1977, the eldest son in Prime Minister Hun Sen's family.

After graduating from high school, Hun Manet joined the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) in 1995, and was sent to study at the prestigious West Point Military Academy in the United States. In May 1999, he became the first Cambodian to graduate from West Point and one of seven foreign students to graduate that year.

After returning to Cambodia, Hun Manet was promoted to lieutenant in the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and was quickly promoted to high positions in the army. In addition to his military education, he also studied economics and received a master's degree from New York University in the US in 2002, and a doctorate from the University of Bristol in the UK in 2008.

In 2011, he was promoted to major general, promoted to lieutenant general two years later and to general in 2018, serving as army commander and deputy commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF). He also holds the dual responsibilities of commanding the Prime Minister's bodyguard unit and leading the Ministry of National Defense's counter-terrorism department.

During the 2008-2011 standoff between Cambodia and Thailand over the Preah Vihear temple, Hun Mante played a prominent role in negotiating an end to the standoff. He was also actively involved in the RCAF reform process, which focused on young officers and soldiers.

In addition to his important military positions, Hun Manet has also risen rapidly in the political system. In December 2018, he was elected to the standing committee of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP). In 2020, he was promoted from deputy secretary to secretary of the CPP Central Youth Union.

General Hun Manet is also considered a popular figure among Cambodian youth. He has built the image of a highly educated politician who always behaves moderately and is approachable.

Hun Manet is the head of the Samdech Techo Hun Sen Scholarship Committee, which provides scholarships to thousands of young Cambodians to study at university. He is also the chairman of the board of directors of the Samdech Techo Volunteer Doctors Association, which mobilizes thousands of medical staff and volunteers to provide free health care to people in rural areas. He also promotes humanitarian activities to help orphans and disabled children.

Hun Manet is married to Pich Chanmony, daughter of Pich Sophoan, former head of the Ministry of Labor.

Prime Minister Hun Sen has repeatedly affirmed that his son Hun Manet is "worthy" and fully capable of leading the government thanks to his own abilities.

The ruling CPP on July 23 claimed a landslide victory in the parliamentary election, winning 120 out of 125 seats. Mr. Hun Sen said the percentage of voters who voted for the CPP showed that they trusted the ruling party and chose Mr. Hun Manet as their successor.

Hun Manet's government is expected to have many new faces from the next generation of leaders.

After stepping down as prime minister, Mr. Hun Sen, as CPP President, still has the ability to orient policies for the new government through the ruling party's policies. However, he affirmed that he will not interfere with his son's future government work.

Huyen Le (According to AFP, Reuters, KhmerTimes )

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