THE Kingdom’s parliament has approved ex-ruler Hun Sen’s youngest son Hun Many (pic) as a deputy prime minister, the latest member of the family to be promoted since the former leader handed the reins to his eldest son Hun Manet.
Hun Sen stepped down in August after nearly four decades of ruling Cambodia with an iron fist, handing power to Hun Manet following a landslide win in national polls held without any significant opposition parties.
The government, formed by Hun Manet last year, now includes a number of relatives, with several children of Hun Sen’s allies also holding top jobs.
All 120 lawmakers, including Hun Sen, endorsed civil service minister Hun Many, 41, as a deputy prime minister yesterday at the request of Hun Manet.
There are 10 other deputy prime ministers already serving in the government.
Hun Manet told lawmakers the promotion of his youngest brother was in line with the need to achieve the “highest efficiency of the government’s policy”, with his goal to turn Cambodia into a high-income country by 2050.
With their appointments next week, the number of deputy prime ministers in the South-East Asian country will increase to 11, as the number of senior ministers will rise to 23.
The National Assembly is made up of 125 lawmakers, including 120 from the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and five from the royalist Funcinpec Party.
Among the 10 other deputy prime minister’s is Hun Sen’s nephew Neth Savoeun, a former national police chief.
Hun Sen’s second son Hun Manith, 42, is the head of the defence ministry’s military intelligence unit and a deputy commander of the Royal Cambodian Army.
After coming to power in 1985, Hun Sen helped modernise a country devastated by civil war and genocide.
Critics say his rule has also been marked by environmental destruction, entrenched graft and the elimination of nearly all political rivals.
Hun Sen is set to become the president of the Senate following a senators’ election on Sunday. — AFP/Xinhua
