August 10
Hun Sen Announces New National Assembly Leadership
Cambodian People’s Party president Hun Sen announced a shakeup of the party leadership in the National Assembly, signaling the departure of incumbent lower house president Heng Samrin.
The caretaker prime minister released an audio clip on his Facebook page Wednesday night, seemingly responding to a Radio Free Asia story about internal dissent in the ruling party. Hun Sen said current second deputy Khuon Sodary will take over from Samrin as National Assembly president.
She will be assisted by Cheam Yeap, who will remain as first vice president, and Vong Soth, who takes over as second deputy president. Soth is the social affairs minister and son-in-law to Samrin.
He also said Hun Manet’s new cabinet will be revealed on Thursday. Hun Sen is meeting with old and new members of the Council of Ministers on Thursday.
Hun Sen also said senior members of the party like Supreme Court chief justice Dith Munty had asked the king to approve his retirement given his old age. Senate president Say Chhum, Senate first vice president Sim Ka and CPP Senator Ty Borasy had also asked to step down from their positions over their age and health, he said in the audio message.
In a speech after the July 23 election, Hun Sen indicated that he would contest the Senate election next year and become the Senate president. The constitutional position is second only to the king in the civilian chain of command; the Senate president signs off on all official documents and assumes the role of acting head of state when the king is not present in the country.
Previously
Last week, Hun Sen announced that current Transport Minister Sun Chanthol and National Police chief Neth Savoeun would become deputies to his son Hun Manet when he becomes prime minister. In other state institutions, National Bank governor Chea Chanto is handing over the position to his daughter Chea Serey, while retaining an “honorary” governorship himself. Chea Serey’s deputies will be Deputy Prime Minister Yim Chhay Ly’s son Yim Leat and Senate president Say Chhum’s daughter Say Samath. Yim Leat was removed from his lawmaker spot as a result.
Profiles of the 125 lawmakers elected in the July 23 election are here, and Hun Manet’s new cabinet will be profiled here.
Recent Appointments
| Date | Name | Position | Family | Background |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 8 | Kong Panha | Royal Palace Ministry adviser, rank equivalent to senior minister | Daughter of Royal Palace Minister Kong Sam Ol | |
| August 7 | Hun Manet | Designated prime minister | Son of outgoing Prime Minister Hun Sen | Army commander |
| August 3 | Neth Savoeun | Announced as deputy prime minister | Husband of Hun Sen’s niece Hun Kimleng | National Police chief |
| August 3 | Sun Chanthol | Announced as deputy prime minister | Transport minister | |
| July 29 | Chea Serey | National Bank governor | Daughter of outgoing National Bank governor Chea Chanto | National Bank deputy governor |
| July 29 | Yim Leat | National Bank deputy governor | Son of Deputy PM Yim Chhay Ly | Lawmaker for Kampong Thom |
| July 29 | Sam Samath | National Bank deputy governor | Daughter of outgoing Senate president Say Chhum | |
| July 29 | Chea Chanto | National Bank “honorary” governor | Father of new National Bank governor Chea Serey | Newly elected lawmaker for Kampong Thom |
| Date unclear | Neth Thida Vichhuna | Foreign Affairs Ministry adviser, rank equivalent to secretary of state | Daughter of National Police chief Neth Savoeun | |
| Date unclear | Neth Thida Chanthima | Foreign Affairs Ministry adviser, rank equivalent to department director | Daughter of National Police chief Neth Savoeun |
