The new government has been approved by the National Assembly, with the appointment of more than 10 new young generations of ministers, most of whom are sons, daughters, a son-in-law and nephew of previous ministers and supreme leaders.
The government cabinet, which marks a new chapter in Cambodia’s history, was approved by the National Assembly (NA) and announced by Hun Sen via his Telegram channel on Tuesday.
According to the voting, 123 out of 125 members of the NA voted, approving Khuon Sodary as president of the NA, Cheam Yeap as first vice president, Vong Sauth as second vice president and the whole new designated government cabinet.
Hun Manet said in the NA that today is a historical day for Cambodia in that "the NA voted for me to be the new Prime Minister of Cambodia. On behalf of the government of Cambodia five promises".
"I, as the new Prime Minister of Cambodia, am committed to continue developing Cambodia based on Cambodian People's Party’s (CPP) policies, such as ensuring peace and sovereignty, improving the economy, improving people’s living standards, improving social welfare and addressing climate change," he said.
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He further mentioned that to achieve these five policies many mechanisms will be implemented, such as universal health care protection, providing training programmes to youths, protecting vulnerable groups of people through social protection programmes, and promoting a green economy.
The majority of ministers in the new government are young people. According to the newly appointed government cabinet, Hun Manet is the Prime Minister.
Neth Pheaktra has been appointed Minister of Information, replacing Khieu Kanharith who will become a member of parliament.
Pheaktra is Secretary of State at the Ministry of Environment (MoE), Chief of Public Affairs Section and spokesman at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC).
Pheaktra was born in Tbong Khmum and attended Tbong Khmum High School before studying at the Institute of Foreign Languages of the Royal University of Phnom Penh, according to his Facebook account.
Pheaktra has worked for various media outlets, such as RENDEZVOUS TV Program EN FRANCAIS, Radio France International and the Phnom Penh Post, before he assumed top positions at ECCC and the MoE.
A photo released of the new cabinet also shows Cham Nimul, who has been appointed Minister of Commerce, replacing Pan Sorasak. Nimul is the daughter of Cham Prasith, who is Senior Minister and Minister of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation.
Say Samal also appeared in the photo. He has been appointed as Land Management Minister
Samal, current Environment Minister, who is son of Senate President Say Chhum, completed a PhD in Philosophy at the School of Biological Sciences of Monash University in Australia.
Others include Sok Soken, who has been appointed Minister of Tourism, replacing Thong Khon, who has served since 2007.
Soken is the son of late former deputy prime minister Sok An, who died in 2017.
Soken is Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. He completed his Master’s degree in Public Administration, Public Policy, and has a PhD in International Studies from Peking University in China.
Peng Ponea has been appointed Minister of Public Works and Transport, replacing Sun Chanthol, who was appointed Deputy Prime Minister. Ponea is the son of Men Sam An, a deputy prime minister since 2009.
Hem Vandy, a son-in-law of foreign affairs minister Prak Sokhonn, has been appointed Minister of the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation (MISTI). He married Prak Khonndanie, a daughter of Sokhonn in 2007.
Net Savoeun, nephew of Hun Sen and National Police Commissioner, has been appointed deputy prime minister.
In addition to the new ministers, Sar Sokha and Tea Seiha have also been promoted to deputy prime ministers and minister of national defense and the new cabinet is expected to be sworn in on August 22.
Hun Sen said that even though he resigned as a Prime Minister, he will "still remain in politics by being President of the CPP and it is likely that I will be appointed as President of the Senate".
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