PHNOM PENH: The Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) is gearing up for the power shift on August 22, when the government’s 6th mandate will finish, making way for its 7th iteration. On that day, incumbent Prime Minister Hun Sen will resign his position, as will many of his cabinet members, to make way for the next generation of CPP politicians. The party had adopted the slogan, "Keep the old, increase the new," and CPP President Hun Sen has requested the new Council of Ministers to continue to heed the wisdom and experience of outgoing officials by giving them roles as advisors to ministries and institutions.

On August 10, the PM held a meeting of the outgoing and upcoming ministers and officials set to take office on August 22. He said that the CPP has always valued and recruited capable and talented intellectuals and scholars to participate in building and serving the nation and its people.

As CPP President, Prime Minister Hun Sen also requested an age cap of 74 for CPP Senate members, to avoid an overcrowding of the elderly in the legislative branch. The PM plans to lead the Senate beginning in February 2024, and announced he would retire after one term, when he is 75 years old.

Under the "Keep the old, increase the new," the CPP president aims to keep on the older members of the party relevant, while also recruiting as many new members as possible. Leading up to the election, a wave of former opposition members were welcomed into the CPP fold as the PM extended an open invitation to anyone who wanted to join, so long as they denounced any ties with exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy.