Mr. Hun Manet is about to become Prime Minister of Cambodia, replacing Mr. Hun Sen.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, one of the world's longest-serving leaders, said on July 26 that he would step down and hand over the premiership to his eldest son Hun Manet after nearly four decades in power.

Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) won a landslide victory in the general election on July 23, with 82% of the vote. The CPP is expected to win 120 of the 125 seats in the lower house of parliament, paving the way for Hun Sen’s successor.

The new Cambodian National Assembly will convene on August 21 and the new Cabinet will be sworn in on August 22.

Mr. Hun Sen - who is currently serving as the acting Prime Minister - has officially confirmed that he will no longer continue as Prime Minister of Cambodia, and Mr. Hun Manet, his eldest son, will become the new Prime Minister from August 22 onwards.

“Hun Manet will begin serving as Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia from the evening of August 22, 2023 onwards,” Mr. Hun Sen said in a special statement broadcast on National Television of Cambodia (TVK) on the afternoon of July 26.

“Since I assumed the position of Prime Minister on January 14, 1985 until August 22, 2023, I have been in office for 14,099 days, or 2,014 weeks, or 463 months, or 38 years, 7 months, and 8 days,” Mr. Hun Sen emphasized.

World - Mr. Hun Manet is about to become Prime Minister of Cambodia, replacing Mr. Hun Sen. — A man watches Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen speak during a special televised address at a restaurant in Phnom Penh, July 26, 2023. Photo: Getty Images

According to Mr. Hun Sen, although he resigned, he will continue his political career as President of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP), member of the National Assembly and President of the King's Supreme Privy Council, and then possibly President of the Senate after the Cambodian Senate election on February 25 next year.

“Therefore, I will continue to have the opportunity to serve the people, help the government maintain peace, security, order and contribute to the development of the country, as well as support the King in his absence,” he said. “I will not interfere in the work of the new Prime Minister or the new government, there is a clear separation between the legislative and executive branches,” Mr. Hun Sen said.

Mr. Hun Manet, 45 years old, studied at West Point Military Academy in the US, and has a Master's degree from New York University (USA) and a PhD from Bristol University (UK), both in economics.

He is currently the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and Commander of the Royal Cambodian Army. Mr. Hun Manet has received the support of the ruling CPP as a candidate for future Prime Minister in December 2021.

Mr. Hun Manet was born on October 20, 1977 in Koh Thmar village, Memot district, Kampong Cham province (now Thbong Khmum province) during the Khmer Rouge rule of Cambodia. He married Ms. Pich Chanmony, and had two daughters and a son .

Minh Duc (According to Khmer Times, CNBC)

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