Cambodia: Prime Minister Hun Sen wants his son to succeed him

Hun Manet, the son of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen during a speech in Phnom Penh on June 18, 2020. AP - Heng Sinith

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Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has ruled the kingdom with an iron fist for over 30 years, on Thursday, December 2, supported his eldest son to succeed him.

The accession to power of Hun Manet, 44, will however have to go through elections, he said.

Legislative elections are scheduled for 2023. 

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Politics in Cambodia is a family affair.

And it's no secret that

wants to see one of his sons succeed him.

Hun Manet, 44, already holds important positions.

This graduate of the prestigious American military academy of West Point became in 2018, the deputy commander-in-chief of the royal armed forces.

Two years later, he was promoted to the standing committee of the Cambodian People's Party, the only party in the country after the dissolution in 2017 of the largest opposition party, the Cambodia National Rescue Party.

Legislative elections in 2023

It had long been rumored that Hun Sen, 69, was preparing Hun Manet - a four-star general - to rule the kingdom.

The Prime Minister added that his son will have to stand in the legislative elections of 2023. In the previous poll in 2018, the Cambodian People's Party (PPC) led by Hun Sen won all the seats.

The previous year, the Supreme Court had several months earlier

, the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), and the 19 small parties allowed to run were all allied with the PPC.

It has therefore been several years since the indestructible Prime Minister has been preparing his son for his succession.

But Hun Sen, 69, who holds the record for political longevity in Asia, still has no plans to step down.

Last June he declared that his party would remain a dominant force for another 100 years.

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• Cambodia

• Hun Sen