90% will be newcomers.

The Khmer Times reported on July 28 that it will take the “enthusiasm” of young cabinet ministers to address the many priority issues and responsibilities after the new government led by Hun Manet is sworn in next month.

According to Cambodian newspapers, General Hun Manet, 45, will begin his role as Prime Minister of the Southeast Asian nation on August 22nd – the day the parliament officially accepts the newly formed government. Prior to that, on August 7th, the King will issue a decree appointing the new Prime Minister.

However, analysts, academics, and even senior members of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) remain skeptical about the new cabinet that Hun Manet will lead.

In an interview with the Khmer Times earlier this week, Sok Eysan, spokesman for the CPP party, acknowledged that younger successors have “less experience” in their respective fields.

Mr. Eysan stated that 90% of General Hun Manet's cabinet will be new members, while 10% of the old cabinet will be retained to ensure the stability of government operations.

“Some officials lack experience, but if they pay close attention to the grassroots, connect with the people, and utilize their existing knowledge and higher education, I think they will do their jobs well,” Mr. Eysan said. “This is why the CPP is having older officials mentor them.”

General Hun Manet, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Army and eldest son of Prime Minister Hun Sen, after casting his vote in the general election on July 23, 2023. Photo: Al Jazeera

A major challenge lies ahead.

Chheang Vannarith, Chairman of the Asian Vision Institute (AVI), a leading think tank on geopolitical risk analysis and governance innovation, noted that several major challenges lie ahead for the new government, including combating corruption and building clean and robust state institutions.

"Therefore, a transformational leadership style is necessary. The courage to reform is essential," Vannarith said.

According to Vannarith, a public policy analyst and strategist specializing in government relations, the primary basis of a new administration's legitimacy is "how and when it can deliver concrete results to meet the needs and expectations of the people."

Meanwhile, Kin Phea, Director General of the Institute of International Relations at the Royal Academy of Cambodia – a leading advisory body to the government – ​​highlighted several key issues that the new government should prioritize.

“The stability and growth of the past decade need to be further optimized and reformed to open up the economy more broadly. However, external headwinds such as the Ukraine crisis, Myanmar, and US-China competition are making things difficult for smaller countries, including Cambodia,” Phea said.

In a live interview on Cambodian National Television (TVK) on July 26, interim Prime Minister Hun Sen called on those in their 70s and 80s, who are about to leave the Cabinet, to join him in guiding his younger successors.

Mr. Hun Sen stated that he was handing over the position of Prime Minister for the sake of long-term political stability, peace, and development of the country.

Despite leaving the executive branch, Hun Sen said he will continue as a legislator and will be appointed Chairman of the Supreme Privy Council of Cambodia, the King's advisory body. Additionally, he will become President of the Senate after the Cambodian Senate election on February 25th next year, in which the CPP is confident of another overwhelming victory.

General Hun Manet (right), Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Army and eldest son of Prime Minister Hun Sen, and Defense Minister Tea Banh, at a promotion ceremony in Phnom Penh, April 20, 2023. Photo: Online Citizen

Hun Sen also promised not to interfere in the work of the new Prime Minister and government. The veteran Cambodian leader expressed confidence that the new Prime Minister, Hun Manet, would receive the support of the people.

He also added that General Hun Manet's assumption of the Prime Minister position did not bypass any procedures. He said, "My son would not have inherited this role without a proper process. He participated in the election as a parliamentary candidate, and this is a fundamental step in our democratic system."

A steadfast foreign policy

As the eldest of Prime Minister Hun Sen's five children, Hun Manet was born on October 20, 1977. He is married to Pich Chanmony, the daughter of a prominent Cambodian politician. The couple has three children.

Hun Manet grew up in Phnom Penh and joined the Cambodian army in 1995, and later studied at universities in the United States and the United Kingdom.

He was the first Cambodian to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1999. He subsequently earned a Master's degree in Economics from New York University (USA) in 2002 and a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Bristol (UK) in 2008.

Simultaneously, he rose steadily through the ranks of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, from deputy commander of his father's bodyguard unit to commander of the counter-terrorism force, and is currently a four-star General serving as Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Army.

He also became the Head of the Youth Department of the ruling CPP party and served on the party's Standing Committee.

In December 2021, Hun Sen designated his eldest son, Hun Manet, as his successor as leader, and the CPP soon considered Hun Manet as the "future Prime Minister".

General Hun Manet has given a few media interviews, offering little insight into his vision for Cambodia and its more than 16 million people. He largely avoided lengthy speeches during his election campaign, mostly limiting himself to just smiling and waving.

Hun Sen and his son Hun Manet at the graduation ceremony of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, 1999. Photo: ABC Net News

At a key campaign rally on July 21, Hun Manet said that voting for the CPP was voting for a bright future, and warned of “extremist” plots to sabotage the general election taking place two days later, on July 23.

In 2015, Hun Manet told Australia's ABC that Cambodia must preserve peace, stability, and security "at all costs."

Some observers have noted that General Hun Manet, having received a Western education, is likely to steer Cambodia further toward the West once he fully replaces his father.

“General Hun Manet studied at West Point, so it’s possible that when he succeeds his father in any position, Cambodia will lean a little more toward the West,” said Paul Chambers, lecturer and special advisor on international relations at the ASEAN Community Research Centre, Faculty of Social Sciences, Naresuan University in Thailand.

However, Mr. Eysan, spokesperson for the CPP party, rejected this idea. Mr. Eysan believes that Cambodia's foreign policy will not change under the new government, and stated that the ruling CPP party has already laid out the political platform for the government to implement.

“The new government must translate the party’s political platform into reality so that the country’s foreign policy remains unchanged. For example, Cambodia welcomes all investors, not just China, but also the US and other countries,” Eysan said.

"The fact that someone graduated from a US university does not mean that person will lean toward the US," the CPP representative said. "We will continue to adhere to a consistent foreign policy of neutrality and non-alignment, as well as a policy of equality, respect, and non-interference in each other's internal affairs . "

Minh Duc (According to Khmer Times, Reuters)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/noi-cac-cua-tan-thu-tuong-campuchia-hun-manet-90-se-la-nguoi-moi-a619395.html