King Sihamoni to open new Senate building

Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihamoni will preside tomorrow over the inauguration of the country’s new Senate headquarters in Phnom Penh, marking his first major public appearance since undergoing prostate cancer surgery earlier this year.

The four‑storey structure, known as the Solidarity Palace, has been built in traditional Khmer architectural style within the Senate compound in Tonle Bassac commune. Measuring 79 by 47 metres, it was completed earlier this year under the leadership of Senate President Hun Sen, who inspected the site in January. Construction began in August 2024.

The King returned to Cambodia on 3 July after receiving medical care in Beijing. Since then, he has resumed public duties, including symbolic inaugurations of schools, roads and community projects across seven provinces. Tomorrow’s ceremony will be his most prominent engagement outside the Royal Palace since his recovery.

Authorities in Phnom Penh have announced temporary traffic diversions to ensure security and smooth proceedings. From 5 a.m. until the end of the programme, vehicles will be barred from sections of Norodom Boulevard and surrounding roads near the Senate compound. Officials urged residents to avoid the area and promised normal traffic flow would resume once the event concludes.

The inauguration highlights both continuity and change in Cambodia’s political landscape. Hun Sen, who stepped down as prime minister in 2023 after nearly four decades in power, now leads the Senate. His role in overseeing the construction reflects his continued influence in national affairs.

For King Sihamoni, the event is a symbolic return to public life, reinforcing his position as a unifying figure in Cambodia’s constitutional monarchy. His presence at the ceremony is expected to draw significant attention, not only for the new building itself but also for what it represents: stability, tradition and the ongoing evolution of Cambodian governance.

-2026-08-20