Prime Minister Hun Sen announces resignation

[geovalin]

In a special message to the nation, Prime Minister Hun Sen has just announced that he is stepping down from the role of Prime Minister. The PM announced the move via a live broadcast on national TV at around 2.10pm on the 26th of July. The Prime Minister stated that the King will order the appointment of a new Prime Minister – the PM’s son, Hun Manet – in around 3 weeks.

 

The PM added that he will not interfere in the work of Hun Manet as Prime Minister. The PM stated that the his resignation is a prelude to long-term stability, which is the foundation for development. The PM added that that the inauguration of Hun Manet as Prime Minister did not skip the procedures. The PM stated that the resignation of the Prime Minister is a great sacrifice to ensure the peace of the nation and added that his resignation was in line with the royal example of King Norodom Sihanouk in the transfer of the throne.

 

The PM also stated that after he resigns from the Royal Government, he will be appointed by the King to be the President of the Supreme Council of the King. The PM will also be the President of the Senate to replace Samdech Say Chhum after the Senate election on February 25, 2024. Hun Sen has served Cambodia as Prime Minister for a record-breaking 38 years and his stepping down comes after a landslide win for his ruling Cambodian People’s Party in National elections on 23rd July 2023 – with the CPP securing 120 of the 125 available seats

 

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501331629/prime-minister-hun-sen-announces-resignation/

 

[bob smith]

Typical Despot. 

 

Good riddance. 

[jaideedave]

1 hour ago, geovalin said:

In a special message to the nation, Prime Minister Hun Sen has just announced that he is stepping down from the role of Prime Minister. The PM announced the move via a live broadcast on national TV at around 2.10pm on the 26th of July. The Prime Minister stated that the King will order the appointment of a new Prime Minister – the PM’s son, Hun Manet – in around 3 weeks.

 

The PM added that he will not interfere in the work of Hun Manet as Prime Minister. The PM stated that the his resignation is a prelude to long-term stability, which is the foundation for development. The PM added that that the inauguration of Hun Manet as Prime Minister did not skip the procedures. The PM stated that the resignation of the Prime Minister is a great sacrifice to ensure the peace of the nation and added that his resignation was in line with the royal example of King Norodom Sihanouk in the transfer of the throne.

 

The PM also stated that after he resigns from the Royal Government, he will be appointed by the King to be the President of the Supreme Council of the King. The PM will also be the President of the Senate to replace Samdech Say Chhum after the Senate election on February 25, 2024. Hun Sen has served Cambodia as Prime Minister for a record-breaking 38 years and his stepping down comes after a landslide win for his ruling Cambodian People’s Party in National elections on 23rd July 2023 – with the CPP securing 120 of the 125 available seats

 

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501331629/prime-minister-hun-sen-announces-resignation/

 

Free and fair election? His opponents were either banned,exiled or jailed.Well done.Corrupted cousin of LOS.

[Tarteso]

Hun II  The Dinasty

Edited July 26, 2023 by Tarteso

[geovalin]

Cambodia’s Hun Sen says he’ll hand power to eldest son in August

The longtime prime minister will step down once Sunday’s one-sided election is certified.

By RFA Khmer
2023.07.26

 

 

This combination photo shows Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen and his son Hun Manet during election campaign rallies in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, July 1, 2023 and July 21, 2023 respectively.

 

UPDATED AT 4:39 PM EST ON 7-26-2023 

For years, people have talked about Prime Minister Hun Sen’s desire to eventually hand over power to his eldest son, the foreign-educated military general, Hun Manet. 

 

Until recently, the 70-year-old Hun Sen said he would continue as prime minister until after the next parliamentary election in 2028. But in the weeks leading up to last Sunday’s election, speculation grew that the change would happen much sooner. 

 

On Wednesday, Hun Sen called a news conference to say he would step down as prime minister, a position he’s held since 1985. 

In a special broadcast on state television, he said a new Hun Manet-led government would be formed on Aug. 22, after the National Election Committee officially reports the results from Sunday’s election. 

 

“I would like to ask for understanding from the people as I announce that I will not continue as prime minister,” he said.

Preliminary results show Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party winning 120 of 125 seats in the National Assembly in the July 23 vote, which included Hun Manet as a first-time candidate for parliament from Phnom Penh.

 

The only viable opposition, the Candlelight Party, was disqualified in May on a technicality.

Exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy told Radio Free Asia that announcing the handover before the NEC had even certified the election results was “indecent.”

The Cambodian people “object to nepotism,” as well as the prospect of living “under the grip of the Hun family forever,” he said.

 

‘Gripping power’

As recently as March, Hun Sen vowed to rule Cambodia until his death.

“Some people said Hun Sen is gripping power. I am accepting that,” he said at a graduation ceremony in Phnom Penh. “I am only defending the power that I am having – there is nothing wrong with that.”

 

But last week, he drastically moved up that timetable when he told China’s Phoenix TV that he could hand power over to the 45-year-old Hun Manet “within three or four weeks” of Sunday’s elections.

 

That followed various promotions and appointments to government ministries in March and April that seemed to indicate that the sons and daughters of longtime officials would be assuming new leadership roles after the election. 

 

Last week, CPP spokesman Sok Ey San confirmed to Radio Free Asia that a post-election government cabinet would be “90 percent new blood,” with only a few ministers staying on.

 

Hun Sen’s youngest son, Hun Many, thanked his father for his years of service in a message posted on Facebook.

“The Kingdom of Cambodia will move forward with optimism, enthusiasm, confidence, agility and high commitment to the national cause and people,” he said. “Brother Net! We put our trust in you!”

 

New adviser positions for the old guard

Hun Sen confirmed on Wednesday that he would remain as head of the CPP – a post he previously said he would keep to remain politically involved.

 

He also said he would serve as president of the Senate and as a member of the Supreme Council of the King, a nine-member body that selects Cambodia’s monarch. It last acted in 2004 when it selected the current king, 70-year-old Norodom Sihamoni.

 

Changes to the Constitution last year did away with a requirement that the Assembly vote to approve a newly designated prime minister, a move believed aimed at easing the transition to Hun Manet.

 

Hun Sen added on Wednesday that other aging top officials will be expected to step down from their ministry positions soon. They could possibly serve as high-level advisers or as senators, he said.

 

He said this transition would include Interior Minister Sar Kheng, Deputy Prime Minister Men Sam An and Defense Minister Tea Banh – all of whom were recently promoted to vice president positions of the CPP. 

They will also serve as members of the Supreme Council of the King, he said.

 

Translated by Sok Ry Sum. Edited by Mike Firn and Matt Reed.

This story has been updated with background information and quotes from Sam Rainsy and Hun Many.

 

 

https://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/hun-sen-steps-down-07262023040944.html

 

Copyright © 1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.

[geovalin]

Hardline Cambodian PM Hun Sen to Step Down After Four Decades 

 

PHNOM PENH — 

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, one of the world's longest-serving leaders, said Wednesday he will resign in three weeks and hand power to his eldest son after almost four decades of hardline rule.

 

The former Khmer Rouge cadre has run the kingdom since 1985, eliminating all opposition to his power, with opposition parties banned, challengers forced to flee, and freedom of expression stifled.

 

His Cambodian People's Party (CPP) won a landslide victory in an election Sunday with no meaningful opposition, taking 82% of the vote, paving the way for a dynastic succession to his eldest son that some critics have compared to North Korea.

 

"I would like to ask for understanding from the people as I announce that I will not continue as prime minister," the 70-year-old said in a special broadcast on state television.

 

Election authorities disqualified the only serious challenger, the Candlelight Party, on a technicality in advance of the election, and the CPP is expected to win all but five lower house seats.

 

The government hailed the 84.6% turnout as evidence of the country's "democratic maturity" but Western powers including the United States and European Union condemned the poll as neither free nor fair.

 

Chinese influence

Hun Sen has trailed the handover to his son for a year and a half, and the 45-year-old played a leading role in campaigning for Sunday's vote.

 

But the outgoing leader has made it clear that he still intends to wield influence, even after he steps down, scotching the notion the country could change direction.

 

Under Hun Sen, Cambodia has tacked close to Beijing, benefiting from huge Chinese investment and infrastructure projects, including the redevelopment of a naval base that has alarmed Washington.

 

China welcomed Sunday's election, with President Xi Jinping sending Hun Sen a personal message of congratulation.

But the flood of Chinese money has brought problems, including a rash of casinos and online scam operations staffed by trafficked workers in appalling conditions.

 

Critics say his rule has also been marked by environmental destruction and entrenched graft.

Cambodia ranks 150th out of 180 in Transparency International's corruption perception index. In Asia, only Myanmar and North Korea rank lower.

 

Rights groups accuse Hun Sen of using the legal system to crush any opposition to his rule — including activists and troublesome union leaders as well as politicians.

 

Scores of opposition politicians have been convicted and jailed during his time in power and the law was changed ahead of Sunday's election to make it illegal to call for voters to spoil ballots.

 

Five days before polling day, authorities banned exiled opposition figurehead Sam Rainsy from running for office for 25 years for urging people to void their ballot papers.

 

Opposition leader Kem Sokha was in March convicted of treason and sentenced to 27 years in prison over an alleged plot to topple Hun Sen's government. He is currently serving his sentence under house arrest.

 

https://www.voanews.com/a/hardline-cambodian-pm-hun-sen-to-step-down-after-four-decades-/7198415.html