Cambodia general election, revealing Mr. Hun Sen's successor

As of 1 p.m. local time on July 23, 7,187,705 people, or 74.02 percent, had voted in Cambodia's seventh general election to express their views, said National Election Committee (NEC) spokesman Dim Sovannarom.

There were 9,710,655 eligible voters in the general election held every five years to elect members of the 125-seat National Assembly . A total of 18 political parties competed.

“Voting began at 7am local time at all 23,789 polling stations nationwide and ended at 3pm,” said Dim Sovannarom.

According to the spokesman, preliminary results are expected to be announced on the evening of July 23 and the morning of July 24, while official results will be announced on August 9.

The active parties in the race are the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) led by Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and the Funcinpec Party led by Prince Norodom Chakravuth.

Prime Minister Hun Sen voted at a polling station near his residence in Kandal province, about 15 kilometers south of the capital Phnom Penh, while Prince Chakravuth voted in Phnom Penh.

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen at a polling station in Kandal province, near the capital Phnom Penh, Cambodia, July 23, 2023. Photo: Xinhua

In the previous general election held in 2018, the CPP won all 125 seats in the Cambodian National Assembly. In this year's general election, the CPP is expected to continue to win a resounding victory and continue to govern the Southeast Asian nation of 16 million people for another five-year term.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who turns 71 next month, is one of the world's longest-serving leaders, with 38 years in office.

Ahead of the 7th legislative election, Mr. Hun Sen has surprisingly revealed that his eldest son, General Hun Manet – Commander of the Royal Cambodian Army and also the future Prime Minister candidate of the ruling CPP – could take over his position as early as next month.

“In three or four weeks, Hun Manet can become prime minister. It depends on whether Hun Manet can do it or not,” Hun Sen said in an interview with China’s Phoenix TV aired on July 20.

Mr. Hun Manet, 45 years old, studied at West Point Military Academy in the US and has a Master's degree from New York University (USA) and a PhD from Bristol University (UK), both in economics.

Cambodian voters go to the polls in the general election to elect the 7th National Assembly, July 23, 2023. Photo: Khmer Times

General Hun Manet, the CPP's future prime minister candidate, casts his vote at Tuol Kork primary school in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on July 23, 2023. Photo: Khmer Times

Asked about the succession on July 21, CPP spokesman Sok Eysan said the CPP had two prime minister candidates – Hun Sen and Hun Manet – and “there was nothing to confirm” beyond what the leader had said in a television interview.

Earlier, on the morning of July 21, in the capital Phnom Penh, Mr. Hun Manet led the closing parade of the CPP election campaign with nearly 60,000 supporters. Mr. Hun Sen was not present at the march.

In a speech to a large crowd of supporters, Mr. Hun Manet said: “The CPP has the capacity to lead the country to develop, especially to maintain political stability, peace and development everywhere. The CPP always improves its policies to meet the needs of progress in Cambodia.”

He added that although opposition groups are trying to hold back development and create social unrest by disrupting the election process, the CPP is moving forward smoothly and enjoying a lot of support from the people .

Minh Duc (According to Xinhua, Anadolu Agency, Gulf Times, Khmer Times)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/campuchia-tong-tuyen-cu-he-lo-nguoi-ke-nhiem-ong-hun-sen-a618547.html