PHNOM PENH: Lt. Gen. Hun Manet has responded to some analysts who have called his succession as future Prime Ministerial candidate illegal by asking them to review the law before making comment.

At the closing ceremony of the 100th anniversary of the presence of Christianity in Cambodia held on Saturday, 28 January 2023, Lt. Gen. Hun Manet stated that his selection as “the future Prime Ministerial candidate of the Cambodian People's Party is not illegal”, unlike what some analysts have said.

"I do not know if you are an honest analyst who lacks the information to analyze all angles or if you have all the information and omit some of it to distort the truth," he said.

He warned analysts that if they wish to speak of the law, they must not share information that lacks facts and impacts the thinking of the people.

He specifically referred to Article 83 of the Law on the Election of Members of the National Assembly, which states that "outside of working hours, or when not performing official duties, civil servants, local authorities at all levels, the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, the National Police and court officials can participate in propaganda activities in support of any political party or any candidate, but must not be wearing their uniform, must not be armed and must not do anything that leads to intimidation."

"I ask you or the analysts who accused me, did I wear military uniforms when campaigning for the CPP?" he asked. "If there is a photo, post it. I did not! Today I am wearing civilian clothing on part-time military service on Saturday. I’m not doing any wrong! There is a law on this, please go and review it.”

Hun Manet also stated that his selection as the future Prime Ministerial candidate for the CPP is not against the law because his selection was an internal decision of the party, and while he is now the Commander of the Army, if he wishes to be a member of parliament, the law in Cambodia allows him to do so by resigning from his previous role.

“The law on the election of members of parliament, Articles 23, 24 and 25. Article 25, in particular, I would like to read, states that civil servants, court officials, the National Police Force, the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, members of the Constitutional Council, members of the Supreme Council of the Magistracy and clergy who wish to stand for election to the National Assembly must apply for a special suspension or leave [from their position] until the day the final election results are announced, at least 7 days before the election campaign," he said.

According to Hun Manet, there is nothing illegal about him being chosen as the CPP's next Prime Ministerial candidate.

The 44-year-old is the eldest son of Prime Minister Hun Sen, and was the first Cambodian to graduate from West Point Military Academy in the United States. He also holds a Doctorate in Economics from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom, and is, at present, a 3-Star Lieutenant General serving as the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and Commander of the Army.