Hun Sen’s Son Confirmed as Candidate; 10 Lawmakers Told to Retire

Left to right: Hun Sen's son, Hun Many, Dy Vichea (Hok Lundy's son and Hun Sen's son-in-law), Say Sam El, son of Vice-President of the National Assembly Say Chhum.

By Kuch Naren
The Cambodia Daily
February 22, 2013

Senior CPP leaders have lined up a number of their male progeny to contest seats in July’s National Elections, and at least 10 of the ruling party’s batch of 90 lawmakers have been ordered to retire at the end of the current government mandate.

News of the forced retirements comes a day after it was revealed that all three of Prime Minister Hun Sen’s sons were being considered as parliamentary candidates, though CPP lawmaker Cheam Yeap said on Wednesday that only one son, Hun Many, 30, has been confirmed as an election candidate so far.

“It’s been officially confirmed that only one son of Samdech Hun Sen, Hun Many, is on the list for parliamentary election for Kompong Speu province in the fifth mandate of the government,” Mr. Yeap said.

Mr. Many studied at the National Defense University in Washington D.C., but has recently moved into the political realm as leader of the ruling CPP’s Youth Movement.

Mr. Many is not the only son being put forward to replenish the rapidly aging ranks of his father’s party.

According to Mr. Yeap, Dy Vichea, son of the CPP’s late National Police Chief Hok Lundy and husband of Mr. Hun Sen’s daughter Hun Mana, will stand as a reserve election candidate in Svay Rieng province.

Sar Sokha, the son of Interior Minister Sar Kheng and who is also a deputy Phnom Penh police chief, will run for election in Prey Veng province.

The son of CPP Senate first Deputy President Say Chhum, Say Sam Al, will run for election in Kompong Cham province. The son of CPP Supreme Court President Dith Munthy will run in Kandal province, and the son of De­puty Prime Minister and Cabinet Chief Sok An will run for election in Takeo province.

“The Cambodian People’s Party has a new policy of putting at least two younger candidates forward to run in each province for the national elections,” Mr. Yeap said.

“These are the children of CPP leaders, they are really talented and hold at least a master’s degree,” Mr. Yeap said, explaining why party leaders, including himself, had chosen their sons as candidates.

Mr. Yeap’s son will stand for election in Battambang province.

“They [the leaderships’ sons] will be able to lead and develop the country to move forward like other developed countries,” he added.

Mr. Yeap also said that 10 CPP parliamentarians were informed that their services would not be needed come election time in July, though other senior positions in government awaited those being forced to retire.

“Just 10 lawmakers of today’s 90 lawmakers have been ordered to retire,” Mr. Yeap said.

So far, only CPP lawmaker for Kompong Speu province, Ly Sun, has been confirmed as one of the 10 retirees, Mr. Yeap said.

Neither of the ruling party’s veteran parliamentarians Finance Minister Keat Chhon, 79, nor Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, 77, are among those headed for retirement, he added.

The CPP controls 90 of the National Assembly’s 123 seats.