KANDAL: Prime Minister Hun Sen announced his resignation soon after the close of the national election last month. While his son is expected to inherit the position on August 22, the current prime minister addressed a crowd on August 3, saying that this was most likely his last public address as prime minister. "Today can be considered as the last time I speak as Prime Minister,” he said while inaugurating a Phnom Penh bypass.
Prime Minister Hun Sen said that although he will no longer be Cambodia’s premier, he will remain in key government roles including the head of the Supreme Council of the King and President of the Senate. Having been under the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Sen for nearly 40 years, people in the crowd had a lot of feelings about his departure.
"I will miss him! But he is not going anywhere, he will still serve us. […] He made sacrifices to seek our freedom,” said Kandal resident Yim Sary. “At that time [the Khmer Rouge era] I was evacuated to Pursat and his army came to liberate us. We are still alive today.” Kandal resident Prohm Touch said, “I will miss him! More than 40 years and I just met him today. I have already said that [PM Hun Sen] is a wonderful person, a great person for Cambodia.”
One of the longest-serving leaders in the world, Prime Minister Hun Sen became the prime minister of Cambodia on January 14, 1985. He will end his reign on August 22, 2023, bringing an end to over 38 years of rule. Many Cambodians credit him for bringing peace, stability and development to the nation and so are satisfied with his rule and still support him.
“There are so many memories: schools, roads, infrastructure,” said Kandal resident Chhit Sakhorn. “[He] leads well, no one has led like him before! From the time I was born until now, I am 62 years old, and no leader has brought peace like him."
Thirty-seven-year-old Meas Chamroeun is a teacher at the 7th Jayavarman High School and has only ever known the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Sen. He acknowledged that Cambodia has come a long way, but still has some catching up to do. “When I went to Singapore, I saw that the state of development of our country is limited, but we find it very difficult. Whereas Singapore, they did not go through the war and they have a large port. In terms of development, our country is the slowest, but we had less of a chance,” he said.
While they are sad to see Prime Minister Hun Sen leave his position, they are also confident in his decision to let the next generation take over. Yim Sary said, “I also went through the Pol Pot era like him, and he has worked so hard. I am happy that his son took his place."
Meas Chamroeun is reassured by the PM’s promise to stay involved in Cambodian politics. “Like the PM said, even though he will not be the prime minister, he will not give up because he is still the [CPP] party president. So we can say that he will always give help to the new leader,” he said.
Prohm Touch pledged lifelong fidelity to the prime minister, thanking him and saying, “I will always support and be loyal to you until I die."
