Hun Sen Promises 10 More Years of Service
Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen speaks during an inauguration ceremony for the Phnom Penh ring road No.3 in Kandal Province on August 3, 2023. Photo by TANG CHHIN Sothy / AFP
- By Phoung Vantha
- August 7, 2023 3:03 PM
PHNOM PENH – On the same day King Norodom Sihamoni issued a royal decree to officially designate Hun Manet as prime minister, Hun Sen promised to serve in other positions for at least 10 more years.
“It is not the end yet. I will continue serving in other positions for at least until 2033, by which time I will have served for more than half a century,” he said on Aug. 7 in a Khmer and English message posted on his Telegram channel.
Hun Sen said the decree, issued on Aug. 7, would give his successors a chance to lead after his decision to step down.
“Looking back through time, I was the youngest prime minister (32 years old) and the longest serving in the world,” he wrote, adding that he will continue to be prime minister for 15 more days then he will be “promoted as father of the prime minister.”
“Counting until 22 August 2023, the date which I will officially step down, and counting from 14 January 1985, when I officially became the prime minister, I have been a prime minister for 38 years 7 months and 8 days, an equivalent to 463 months or 2,014 weeks or 14,099 days,” he said.
“If counting my work serving the government from January 8, 1979, in the position of minister of foreign affairs, deputy prime minister, acting prime minister, and prime minister, as of 22 August 2023, I have served for 44 years, 7 months and 14 days, an equivalent to 535 months, 2,328 weeks or 16,297 days.”
Hun Sen recalled he is still the CPP leader and said would be the Senate president for the new mandate and be president of the Supreme Privy Council to the King.
National Assembly President Heng Samrin, current Defense Minister Tea Banh and Minister of National Assembly-Senate Relations and Inspection Men Sam An will be some of the members of the Supreme Privy Council.
With the upcoming change of cabinet, Hun Sen called for understanding from officials who lose their positions, adding that other officials will remain as Members of the Parliament or government and institution advisors.
