Phnom Penh [Cambodia], August 8: Cambodia's king has appointed army chief Hun Manet to be the next prime minister, according to a decree signed on Monday following last month's elections.
Hun Manet, 45, has now been tasked by King Norodom Sihamoni with forming a Cabinet, local media in the increasingly authoritarian south-east Asian country reported.
The lawmaker, who until recently was also the commander of the Royal Cambodian Army, attended the US military academy West Point and then went on to study at universities in both the US and Britain. Hun Manet had been groomed for the role for years.
His father is the former long-time prime minister Hun Sen, who was in power for nearly 40 years. He announced last month that he was stepping down after a landslide election win and handing the baton to his eldest son.
Hun Sen, 71, said he would continue to lead the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and also become president of the Senate in 2024.
Sham elections were held on July 23 which further cemented the power of Hun Sen. The CPP won 120 seats in the 125-member National Assembly. The assembly must now confirm the appointment of his son, which is considered a formality.
Hun Sen had no competition thanks to the massive repression of his rivals. The only opposition party that had real chance at success in the elections, the Candlelight Party, was banned from participating beforehand.
Source: Qatar Tribune