PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Sen announced that he will resign as the Prime Minister of Cambodia on August 22 while continuing to work under the leadership of future Prime Minister Hun Manet. In February, Hun Sen plans to take over as President of the Senate.
EAC News took to the streets to interview Cambodians and gauge their reaction to the upcoming transfer of power. Many people expressed support and confidence that the new Prime Minister will continue to lead Cambodia to grow and develop. They trust that he will continue his father’s 38-year legacy of leading towards progress in all areas, especially in economic development.
"I fully support His Excellency Hun Manet as Prime Minister […], I believe he will lead our country well and develop it more and more," said Ly Sethyyan, a private deliveryman.
Long Sokly, a first-year student at the National University of Management in Accounting said, "I think that the PM chose His Excellency Hun Manet to be the new [Prime Minister] because he can bring something new for our country."
Chhim Sitha, a tuk tuk driver in Phnom Penh, said, "I thinks that it is better for HE Hun Manet to continue to lead the country because he has learned a lot, according to me. Look at the media."
"I am happy to have a new leadership which is related to the PM," said Hong Sim Hakly, a guard near the National Library.
People think that Gen. Hun Manet deserves to be the Prime Minister because they find him highly educated and experienced.
Student Long Sokly explained, "I think he will help Cambodia to grow more because he has studied a lot [abroad] and he brought new experiences back to Cambodia."
"I think it's good that he also has a strong education for our nation to move forward," said tuktuk driver Chhim Sitha.
Hong Sim Hakly also said, "Most Cambodians generally know him [ Hun Manet] as a capable person, knowledgeable, generally speaking, he has studied abroad, he is an educated person, so we can accept him as the new leader.”
Cambodia’s current economic stability and path to prosperity are main factors in the people’s support for Prime Minister Hun Sen. They credit him for establishing the peace in the country that has allowed for development, following the genocidal regime of the Khmer Rouge.
Long Sokly explained, "His [Prime Minister Hun Sen’s] leadership, in the past, he made a win-win policy for the Kingdom of Cambodia to grow from one level to another, from nothing since the breakup of the Khmer Rouge to now there is a lot of development is to develop almost all sectors of the economy, industry and agriculture, to give Cambodia a face on the international stage."
Chhim Sitha added, "We see a lot of development in all areas, there are many high-rise buildings, roads are important as long as our economy moves forward for the next generation to grow because the younger generation learns more, so the younger generation knows more, our country is more developed."
People hope that Cambodia will continue to prosper under the leadership of future Prime Minister Hun Manet in all areas.
Long Sokly expects, “He [Hun Manet] will lead other countries to know Cambodia more and more and grow in other fields. "[I] will try to study and understand new things and be a part of the development of the country and society."
Chhim Sitha suggested, "I urge the new leader to bring in more investment, more jobs for the people, and higher salaries."
Hong Sim Hakly also said, "I am happy because His Excellency Hun Manet is the son of PM [Hun Sen], even though he is young, there will be PM [Hun Sen] to help guide, so I believe that he [Hun Manet] will do just as well or even better than Prime Minister Hun Sen."
