Hun Sen's Son to Run for MP

It's not surprised that Hun Sen is trying to groom his son, Hun Manet (pictured), to become his successor should his party and the opposition rejects him after the 2008 election or if something happens to him in the future. A few weeks ago there was a report on the state-run TV that Hun Manet, flanked by his mother and other Hun Sen's sycophants, was out on the campaign trail publicly in Siem Reap for the first time. He generously donated money and food aid to the victims of the natural disaster, traditionally practised by Khmer politicians to win the hearts and minds of the voters. If Hun Manet wins the seat, which he undoubtedly will, then he will be appointed to the most powerful position in the Cambodian cabinet, presumably Defence, as he was a graduate of the West Point Military Academy in America. If this is the case then Hun Sen will probably upset Tea Banh to a certain extent. He has already upset Cham Prasidh for putting his name in the parliamentary seat of Kep, a one seat municipality which can be easily lost to the opposition. Or Hun Manet might be appointed to the Interior Ministry which will be vacated by Sar Kheng when the latter becomes the chairman of the National Assembly, under the deal with Hun Sen when Chea Sim retires from politics due to ill health.

Whatever position Hun Manet will hold after the election, what we see here is that Hun Sen is trying to establish a Hun dynasty in Cambodia. Below is a report from Khmer Intelligence:
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Hun Sen's son to run for MP

Hun Sen's son Hun Manet is to run at the July 2008 elections for a Member of Parliament seat in Siem Reap province where the CPP now controls four seats out of six. Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh, currently a prominent MP for Siem Reap, will leave that province to become the CPP candidate for Kep municipality, which is a one-seat constituency.