Hun Manet has been appointed prime minister via a royal decree issued on Monday by King Norodom Sihamoni, prior to the National Assembly convening later this month.
While previously the prime minister was appointed by the proposal of the leaders of the new National Assembly after its formation, amendments to the constitution now require the party with the majority of votes to designate the prime minister before the elected parliament is established.
The Asian Network for Free Elections has called these changes, implemented in June last year, “detrimental to parliamentary democracy” in Cambodia.
The new process for selecting the prime minister lessens the elected National Assembly’s power, political analyst Em Sovannara noted.
“If it is still the same as before, it [the prime minister’s nomination] first requires the approval of the president of the National Assembly and two vice presidents, so this [new process] reduces the influence and power of the legislature, if we look at the principle,” he said.
On July 26, Hun Sen, as president of the ruling CPP, informed the King on behalf of the party that his son was their selection for prime minister, party spokesperson Sok Eysan said.
The ruling CPP had won the vast majority of votes in an election in which the leading opposition party was disqualified from participating.
Hun Sen said in a Twitter post Monday that he would remain prime minister for 15 more days before he will “officially step down” when the new National Assembly is sworn in.
Government spokesperson Phay Siphan clarified to CamboJA that Hun Sen will now be a “caretaker prime minister.” Newly appointed prime minister Hun Manet will be responsible for convening the National Assembly on August 21, according to the royal decree.
The following day, the National Assembly is scheduled to announce the government’s new cabinet of ministers.
Already, Hun Sen has said longtime ministers such as Interior Minister Sar Kheng, Defense Minister Tea Banh and National Assembly president Heng Samrin will retire from their positions and take up Senate roles. Hun Sen, who celebrated his 71st birthday this month, said that he would also remain in public service for the foreseeable future.
“It is not the end yet,” Hun Sen said. “I will continue serving in other positions for at least until 2033, which I will then serve for more than half a century.”
On his official Facebook page, Hun Manet thanked the king for appointing him prime minister.
“This is the highest honor in my life—to be given the wonderful chance to serve the motherland and the people of Cambodia in this great position,” he said.
Hun Sen had previously insisted he would remain in the prime minister position he has held for the past 38 years, but announced the week of the July 23 elections that his eldest son Hun Manet would assume the position in August.
On Monday, Hun Sen wrote on his Twitter: “Thank you, my dear wife, for raising this unfortunate child during the hardest time until he becomes the nation’s top leader today.”
