PHNOM PENH— Senate President Hun Sen dismissed foreign critics who continue to accuse him of exerting undue influence over his son, Prime Minister Hun Manet, and the ruling Cambodian People’s Party’s control over the next generation of leaders.

When asked whether Hun Manet could step out of his father’s shadow, the former prime minister had a blunt response: “No way.”

Speaking at a school inauguration in Kandal province on February 11, Hun Sen outlined the strict political framework that the current administration must follow. While he stopped short of admitting direct influence over his son, he emphasized that the new government must remain firmly aligned with the party’s established direction.

“You are lucky to be born in a rich country, but your brain is no better than that of someone born in a poor country,” Hun Sen remarked, dismissing some foreign analyses as absurd.

He went on to argue that government leaders, including the prime minister, are bound by the political framework set by the electorate. Citing South Korea as an example, he noted that a president who strayed from this path was ultimately removed from office.

Despite these assertions, Hun Sen insisted he does not interfere in the prime minister’s decisions. Instead, he said the younger generation of leaders must navigate governance independently and grow stronger in addressing national challenges.

“If they don’t ask for advice, there is no need to give advice,” he added.