Cambodian King appoints Hun Sen’s son as new Prime Minister

Cambodia’s King appointed Hun Sen’s son the country’s new leader, beginning a handover of power that ends nearly four decades of rule, but the outgoing Premier promised this was “not the end” of his political career. King Norodom Sihamoni issued a royal decree appointing Hun Manet as Prime Minister, after Mr. Hun Sen had announced last month that he was stepping down and handing power to his eldest son.

Mr. Hun Sen, one of the world’s longest­serving leaders — made the announcement days after a landslide victory in July polls that were widely decried as a sham, after main challenger the Candlelight Party was barred from participating.

To assume the post, 45­year­old Mr. Hun Manet and his Cabinet must win an August 22 vote in Parliament, where his father’s Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) has all but five of 125 seats in the lower house. Mr. Hun Sen has for years pursued a ruthless campaign against any Opposition, banning parties and forcing adversaries to flee abroad. While insisting he would not interfere with his son’s rule, Mr. Hun Sen promised on Monday he would continue to play a prominent political role.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Cambodia Capital: Phnom Penh;
• Cambodia Currency: Cambodian riel;
• Cambodia Official language: Khmer.

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