Hun Manet

Hun Manet (Khmer: ហ៊ុន ម៉ាណែត, Hŭn Manêt [hun maːnaet]; born 20 October 1977) is a Cambodian politician and general who has served as the prime minister of Cambodia since August 2023, succeeding his father, Hun Sen.[1] Before his political appointment, he served in the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) as its deputy commander-in-chief and the commander of the Royal Cambodian Army. He is the second-eldest son of former prime minister Hun Sen and Bun Rany. Upon appointment as prime minister, he was granted the highest civilian honorary title of Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet (Khmer: សម្តេចមហាបវរធិបតី; meaning "Great Lord and Supreme Leader Hun Manet").[2]

In this Cambodian name, the surname is Hun. In accordance with Cambodian custom, this person should be referred to by the given name, Manet.

Hun Manet
ហ៊ុន ម៉ាណែត
Manet in 2022
Prime Minister of Cambodia
Assumed office
22 August 2023
MonarchNorodom Sihamoni
Deputy
See list
Preceded byHun Sen
Member of the National Assembly
Assumed office
21 August 2023
ConstituencyPhnom Penh
Personal details
Born (1977-10-20) 20 October 1977
Memot, Kampuchea (now Cambodia)
Political partyCambodian People's Party
Spouse
Pich Chanmony
​
(m. 2006)​
Children3
Parents
Relatives
Education
Signature
Websitehunmanet.kh
Military service
AllegianceCambodia
Branch/serviceRoyal Cambodian Army
Years of service1995–present
Rank General
Commands
  • Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces
  • Commander of the Royal Cambodian Army
  • Commander of the Prime Minister's Bodyguard Unit
  • Chair of the RCAF Joint Staff
  • Head of the National Counter-Terrorism Task Force
Battles/warsCambodian–Thai border clashes
Awards

Manet grew up and received his general education in Phnom Penh and later joined the armed forces in 1995, the same year, he entered the United States Military Academy at West Point. After receiving his diploma in 1999, Manet became the first Cambodian to graduate from the academy.[3]

Following the 2023 Cambodian general election, Hun Sen announced his resignation as prime minister on 26 July, officially making Manet the prime minister-designate.[4]

Early life and education

Manet was born on 20 October 1977 in Koh Thmar village, Memot District, Kampong Cham Province, in the Khmer Rouge-ruled Democratic Kampuchea as the second son of Hun Sen and Bun Rany.[5] He is of Teochew Chinese heritage through his grandfather Hun Neang.[6][7] According to Sen, on the night of Manet's birth, a bright light flew over the roof of the house, which led Sen to believe that his son was born from a supernatural being that is worshipped in Koh Thmar village.[8]

Manet grew up and received his general education in Phnom Penh and later joined the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) in 1995, the same year he entered the United States Military Academy at West Point. Having received his diploma in May 1999, he became the first Cambodian academy graduate and one of only seven foreign cadets to graduate that year.[3] Upon graduation from West Point, he received his bachelor's degree in economics and a commission as a Lieutenant in the Royal Cambodian Army. He also received his Master of Arts in economics from New York University, US, in 2002, and a PhD in economics from the University of Bristol, United Kingdom, in 2009, with a thesis titled "What determines the firm size distribution and structural integration? A cross-county study".[9]

Military service

Hun Manet joined the army in 1995, the same year he entered the United States Military Academy. He became Major General in January 2011, just months after being named Deputy Commander of the Royal Cambodian Army and Deputy Chief of the RCAF Joint Staff.[10] Manet played a prominent role in negotiations during the 2008 Cambodian–Thai stand-off. He became a lieutenant general in June 2013,[11] and was later promoted to a four-star general in July 2018 coinciding with his taking over responsibilities as the deputy commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RFAC).[12] His younger brother, Hun Manith, also serves in the army, as brigadier general. On 20 April 2023, Hun Manet was officially promoted to four-star general. Minister of Defence Tea Banh described his promotion as a reflection of his efforts to "serve the nation, military and Cambodian people".[13]

Then-lieutenant general Hun Manet meeting with Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo, 16 February 2022

On 30 June 2018, weeks before the parliamentary elections, Hun Sen appointed Hun Manet into higher military positions in a bid to prepare his son for the premiership when he retired from politics or died, effectively solidifying the Hun political dynasty in Cambodia.[14] Hun Sen had mentioned him as his potential successor.[15]

Political career

In June 2020, Manet was promoted to head of the CPP's youth wing.[16]

He had been mentioned by both media outlets and Hun Sen himself as a candidate for prime minister.[17][18][19] This was formally made official on 4 December 2021 when Manet was unanimously elected by the Cambodian People's Party Central Committee to be the party's future candidate for prime minister after Hun Sen, making him the prime minister-in-waiting.[20]

Premiership

Hun Sen publicly announced his endorsement of Manet's candidacy for prime minister for the first time in December 2021.[19] Although having never publicly expressed interest in the role, he received strong support from several government ministers, party members as well as the CPP's influential Standing Committee.[21] Hun Sen stressed, however, that succession would not take place until at least after the 2028 election.

Hun Manet stood as a first-ranked candidate in Phnom Penh for the National Assembly in the 2023 general election, a requirement to be appointed prime minister.[22] Three days after the election, in which the CPP claimed a landslide victory, Hun Sen announced his resignation and confirmed that Hun Manet would be the new prime minister. The new cabinet was sworn in on 22 August.[1] The election was widely criticized by international observers as being in a restrictive political environment and neither free nor fair; the main opposition party was disqualified two months before the election, and an opposition leader was imprisoned.[23][24][25][26] On 7 August, King Norodom Sihamoni issued a royal decree officially nominating Manet as the new prime minister. He invited Manet to form a new government for the seventh mandate, subject to a vote of confidence from the National Assembly on 22 August.[27][28] His cabinet was confirmed unanimously by the National Assembly on 22 August.[29]

Personal life

Hun Manet is married to Pich Chanmony, the daughter of Pich Sophoan, a former Secretary of State at the Ministry of Labour.[30]

References
  1. "Hun Manet will become new Prime Minister on August 22". Khmer Times. 26 July 2023. Archived from the original on 27 July 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  2. "Prime Minister Hun Manet granted the title "Samdech"". Khmer Times. 3 September 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  3. "Like father, like son in Cambodia". Asia Times. 17 March 2011. Archived from the original on 20 March 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. "Prime Minister Hun Sen announces resignation". Khmer Times. 26 July 2023. Archived from the original on 27 July 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  5. "Hun Manet: Walking his father's path into Cambodia's top job". gulfnews.com. 22 August 2023. Archived from the original on 23 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  6. Forest (2008), p. 178 "Sino-khmer originaire du district de Krauch Chmar 140, Hun Sèn descend par ses grands-parents paternels d'une famille de propriétaires terriens qui paraît correspondre au stéréotype du Chinois – téochiew ? – implanté en zone rurale, c'est-à-dire aisée mais sans pouvoir administratif. Par sa mère, il descendrait inversement d'une tête de réseau....."
  7. Time, Volume 136 (1990), p. 329 Beijing has not softened its hostility toward Hun Sen, but there are subtle signs that China may yet shift its position. Some officials now mention that Hun Sen's grandfather was Chinese, seeming to hint at the possibility of a new....
  8. Vannarin, Neou (3 May 2013). "Hun Sen Tells of Eldest Son's Supernatural Arrival". The Cambodia Daily. Archived from the original on 4 September 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  9. "What determines the firm size distribution and structural integration? A cross-county study". E-Theses Online Service. Archived from the original on 21 July 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  10. Soenthrith, Saing; Vrieze, Paul (30 January 2012). "Hun Sen's Second Son In Meteoric Rise Through RCAF Ranks". The Cambodia Daily. Archived from the original on 21 February 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  11. "Election List May Widen Divide in Hun Sen's Party". Radio Free Asia. 22 February 2013. Archived from the original on 23 November 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  12. Vichea, Pang (2 July 2018). "Hun Manet is now a four-star General". Phnom Penh Post. Archived from the original on 7 September 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  13. "Cambodia PM Hun Sen's son becomes four-star general". CNA. 20 April 2023. Archived from the original on 20 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  14. "Cambodian strongman's son assumes powerful military roles". The Straits Times. 30 June 2018. Archived from the original on 2 July 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  15. "Hun Sen Says Son Is 'Possible Future Leader' of Cambodia". Voice of America. 9 October 2018. Archived from the original on 4 December 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  16. Narim, Khuon (8 June 2020). "CPP promotes Hun Manet to lead party's youth wing". Khmer Times. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  17. Hutt, David (8 June 2019). "Hun Manet: The Next Prime Minister of Cambodia?". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 4 October 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  18. Ben, Sokhean (25 October 2018). "Hun Manet can be prime minister if he is elected, says Hun Sen". The Phnom Penh Post. Archived from the original on 30 August 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  19. "PM Hun Sen declares his support for his son Hun Manet to succeed him as Prime Minister". Khmer Times. 2 December 2021. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  20. "Hun Manet unanimously elected to be the future Prime Minister". Khmer Times. 24 December 2021. Archived from the original on 26 July 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  21. Sokhean, Ben (6 December 2021). "Support for Hun Manet as next PM continues to grow". Khmer Times. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  22. "Hun Manet officially becomes a candidate for Member of Parliament". Khmer Times. 1 April 2023. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  23. Chen, Heather (21 July 2023). "One of the world's longest serving leaders is set to win another one-sided election". CNN. Archived from the original on 10 August 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  24. "Cambodia: Statement by the Spokesperson on the general elections | EEAS". www.eeas.europa.eu. Archived from the original on 1 August 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  25. Miller, Matthew (23 July 2023). "National Elections in Cambodia". United States Department of State. Archived from the original on 24 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  26. "FCDO statement on Cambodian elections". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 7 August 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  27. "King issues a Royal Decree appointing His Excellency Dr. Hun Manet as Prime Minister of Cambodia". Khmer Times. 7 August 2023. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  28. "Cambodia: PM's son Hun Manet appointed next ruler in royal formality". BBC News. 7 August 2023. Archived from the original on 7 August 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  29. "King issues Royal Decree appointing new Council of Ministers with HE Dr. Hun Manet as Prime Minister". Khmer Times. 22 August 2023. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  30. Turton, Shaun; Phak, Seangly (6 July 2016). "Inside the Hun family's business empire". Bangkok Post. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
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