PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Sen has stated that he will not stay in power forever, but he is certain that when he steps down from his position as Prime Minister, power will never fall into the hands of the opposition party. He stated that he believes power will still firmly remain with the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) only.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony for students at the Asia Euro University on Tuesday morning, 23 August, Prime Minister Hun Sen responded to a fortune teller who predicted that the current Cambodian Prime Minister will lose power one day, saying that what the fortune teller said was right because he will not hold the position of prime minister until the day he dies. However, the Prime Minister said that he is sure power will not fall into the hands of anyone other than the CPP.

He said, "I have announced this, why didn’t you hear? What she predicted is right. In response, I want to say that while Hun Sen will [one day] lose power, even if it does not fall into the hands of Hun Manet, it will not fall into your (the opposition’s) hands, it will definitely remain in the hands of the CPP.”

On 24 December 2021, the Central Committee of the CPP voted to entrust Prime Minister Hun Sen's son, Hun Manet, as the party’s future Prime Ministerial candidate. The Spokesperson of the CPP, Sous Yara, announced at the time that this decision shows that the CPP is united and committed to ensuring the protection of peace in Cambodia, while avoiding foreign persecution.

During his Tuesday morning speech at the Asia Euro University, Prime Minister Hun Sen reiterated that if his son Hun Manet was found to be unqualified to lead the country, he would not allow for his son to hold the position of Prime Minister.

“But this big work is not just based on appointment! If my son is not qualified, then I cannot let this country or this party, especially this country, be destroyed by my son," he said.

The Prime Minister emphasized that only someone who is qualified to lead the country can guarantee that Cambodia will continue to stay in a stable position.

The CPP was founded on 28 June 1951 by Cambodian nationalists wishing to liberate Cambodia from French colonization. It is the oldest party in Cambodia and led the struggle to liberate the Cambodian people from the Khmer Rouge regime in 1979, and has continued to lead the country until today.

^{PHOTO: KOK KY}