Cambodian king appoints Hun Manet as new PM

Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni on Monday issued a royal decree making four-star general Hun Manet, 45, the country's new prime minister for a five year-term government following a request from incumbent Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen.

"The designated prime minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia has duties to prepare the members of the government in order to ask for the adoption of confidence from the National Assembly," Sihamoni said in the royal decree.

To officially become the country's new leader, Hun Manet and his new cabinet must win a confidence vote in parliament set for August 22. He is expected to be sworn in on the same day.

The appointment came after the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) of Hun Sen won a landslide victory in the July 23 general election, gaining 120 out of 125 seats in the National Assembly.

Hun Manet, eldest son of Hun Sen, is currently a member of the CPP's Standing Committee and a deputy commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.

On July 26, 71-year-old Hun Sen announced that he would step down as the prime minister after having held the position for more than 38 years, handing the reins of power to Hun Manet.

But he said he will remain the CPP's president and will take the position of president of the senate in an election on February 25 next year.

(Xinhua)