Khuon Sudary to be First Female President of National Assembly
Khuon Sudary will be the first woman to be president of the National Assembly. Photo: Khuon Sudary's Facebook
- By Torn Chanritheara
- August 10, 2023 8:56 AM
PHNOM PENH – Khuon Sudary will be the first woman to be president of the National Assembly, outgoing Prime Minister Hun Sen announced on Aug. 9, as part of changes at the top leadership of the legislative and judicial branches.
Sudary, currently the second deputy president and a member of the National Assembly from Kandal province, will succeed the long-time head of the lower chamber Heng Samrin who will remain an MP.
In a voice message, Hun Sen, who is also president of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), also announced that Cheam Yeab will retain his position as the first deputy president of the National Assembly while Vong Sauth, Samrin’s son in law and the incumbent minister of social affairs, veteran and youth rehabilitation, will be the second deputy.
Hun Sen was responding to a recent report by Radio Free Asia which alleged that the ruling party had been affected by internal fighting. He said the radio had intended to attack the CPP even though they knew it was useless.
“Remember that the CPP has no habit of quarreling for power,” he said.
The outgoing premier said the National Assembly leadership had been decided since 2021.
While the focus has been on the transfer of power in government, Hun Sen said that the change will also affect top officials at other institutions. He said President of the Supreme Court Dith Munty had submitted his resignation to the King.
Say Chhum, the current Senate President, will not compete in the 2024 election. Sim Ka, the first deputy president of the Senate and Ty Borasy, who heads the Senate’s Foreign Affairs Commission, will also relinquish their positions along with other senators, which Hun Sen said was due to old age and health problems.
Hun Sen has said he will be Senate president.
He is slated to chair a meeting between the current government and the incoming leadership led by PM-designate Hun Manet at the CPP headquarters. He said the new ministers will be revealed.
