Power stays in the family
The son follows Cambodia’s long-term ruler
08/07/2023 07:49 am
Hun Sen has been Prime Minister of Cambodia for 40 years, making him one of the longest-serving heads of government in the world. Now the autocrat hands over some power: to his son. Critics are already talking about a “hereditary dictatorship”.
Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihamoni has appointed the son of longtime Prime Minister Hun Sen as the new head of government of the Southeast Asian country. According to local media reports, General Hun Manet will be entrusted with forming the new cabinet in a decree signed by the monarch. The 45-year-old MP attended the West Point US Military Academy and studied in the West. His father had built him up as his successor for years.
Hun Sen ruled for almost 40 years. Almost two weeks ago, the 71-year-old announced that he would resign and hand over the baton to his eldest son. At the same time, the permanent ruler announced that he would continue to head his Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and that he would become Senate President in 2024.
Hun Sen, one of the longest-serving heads of government in the world, only secured his hold on power in the parliamentary elections on July 23, as expected. According to the results, the CPP won 120 seats in the 125-member National Assembly. She must now confirm the appointment of his son, which is considered a formality.
Thanks to massive repression before the election, the autocratic head of government had no competition to fear. The only opposition party with real chances, the Candlelight Party, was banned from participating in advance. Politically, the country is effectively a one-party state – all other parties taking part in the election are either allied with the CPP or are insignificantly small.
Hun Sen once fought for the brutal Khmer Rouge under dictator Pol Pot, but later defected to the Vietnamese. In 1985 he became head of government in the kingdom. Human rights activists compare the situation in the Southeast Asian country with that in North Korea and speak of a “hereditary dictatorship”.