Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has lived up to a pre-election promise made on Chinese TV and announced his plans to resign within three weeks, handing power to his eldest son.
Hun Sen is one of the world’s longest-serving leaders, running Cambodia since 1985.
His Cambodian People’s Party won a landslide victory in Sunday’s general elections, after the only viable opposition, the Candlelight Party, was disqualified on a technicality.
“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, AFP news reported.
Hun Sen said his son, 45-year-old Hun Manet, would be named prime minister once the final results of the election have been announced by the National Election Commission.
He said King Norodom Sihamoni had agreed with his decision.
Preliminary results show the CPP winning 120 seats in the National Assembly, with the royalist Funcinpec party securing five seats, according to a message posted by the prime minister on Telegram. He said Wednesday that a new government will be formed on Aug. 22.
The news did not come as a surprise. In an interview with China’s Phoenix TV that aired last Thursday Hun Sen said he was preparing to hand over the reins of power to his son and a younger generation of politicians.
“I have sacrificed my power. Hun Sen has sacrificed power for peace for a long time,” he said.
The CPP has ruled Cambodia since 1979. Recent appointments and promotions in several government ministries indicated that the sons and daughters of longtime officials would be assuming new leadership roles after the election.
CPP spokesman Sok Ey San confirmed to Radio Free Asia on Friday that a post-election government cabinet will be “90 percent new blood,” with only a few ministers staying on.
Edited by Mike Firn.
