Highlights: Cambodia: Hun Sen, elected senator, does not let go of the reins of power. Members of Cambodia's lower house and local councilors voted this Sunday, February 25, to elect senators. Hun Sen running under the banner of his eldest son's ruling party, won a seat and secured the top post in the upper house. The party will appoint the former prime minister as Senate president in April, a role that allows him to act as head of state when the king is abroad.

Members of Cambodia's lower house and local councilors voted this Sunday, February 25, to elect senators. Former Prime Minister Hun Sen, who is running under the banner of…

Cambodia: Hun Sen, elected senator, does not let go of the reins of power

Members of Cambodia's lower house and local councilors voted this Sunday, February 25, to elect senators.

Former Prime Minister Hun Sen, running under the banner of his eldest son's ruling party, won a seat and secured the top post in the upper house.

“Voted”: the former Prime Minister of Cambodia Hun Sen, although having chosen his eldest son to succeed him last year, is not completely letting go of the reins of power.

Elected senator this Sunday, February 25, 2024, he should take charge of the Upper House next April.

AFP - TANG CHHIN SOTHY

By: RFI Follow

After ruling the country with an iron fist for nearly four decades, Hun Sen

ceded power to his eldest son Hun Manet

last July following elections

without real opposition

However, he then indicated that he intended to continue to exercise influence despite his resignation.

The party will appoint the former prime minister as Senate president in April, a role that allows him to act as head of state when the king is abroad.

Also listenCambodia: Prime Minister Hun Sen cedes power to his son and “remains in a position of influence”

Four political parties, including Hun Sen's ruling CPP, the royalist Funcinpec Party and two small opposition parties participated in the elections.

The National Electoral Commission is expected to release official results in several weeks.

Of the 62 seats in the Senate, 58 are allocated by 125 deputies and more than 11,000 local administrators.

The government today includes a number of members of

Hun Sen

's family , and several children of his allies also hold prominent positions.

His youngest son,

Hun Many, was named Deputy Prime Minister

by Parliament a few days ago.

Coming to power in 1985, Hun Sen helped modernize a country devastated by

civil war and genocide

But his critics say his reign was also marked by environmental destruction, endemic corruption and the elimination of almost all political rivals.

Read alsoLegislative elections in Cambodia: opponents in exile excluded from elections for at least 20 years

Cambodia: Hun Sen, elected senator, does not let go of the reins of power

Cambodia: Hun Sen, elected senator, does not let go of the reins of power

You may like

Trends 24h

Latest