Prime Minister for Life

With the current electoral processes where people vote for a party not for an individual candidate, Premier Hun Sen will surely be the next prime minister until or unless: 1) he die, 2) is too old for the CPP, 3) he quits or else-- until he is forced out of the office like other dictators in other countries.


Many people in the oppositions and some observers probably bet or hope that Hun Sen will be forced out of power, but that chance is slim to none.

Looking at the top leaders of the CPP, it is unlikely that any one of them will be able to challenge PM Hun Sen without having a green light from Vietnam first.

Regardless how Cambodians feel about the Vietnamese, Vietnam does have great influences over the Cambodian People's Party. Whoever is skillful enough to promote special ties with Vietnam will have a bright future in this party.

Premier Hun Sen has also made it known that Cambodia owes so much to Vietnam for helping Cambodia from being wiped out by the Khmer Rouge--the former ally of Vietcong and North Vietnamese.

With the principle of virtuous gratitude or “Kunnathor” instilled in Cambodian’s frame of mind for generations, they will always be indebted to the Vietnamese. Likewise, the CPP members are thankful to their respective leaders as well as to Premier Hun Sen for giving them what they have so far.

With gratitude and personal interests in mind, the majority of voters will not mind to have Premier Hun Sen ruled Cambodia as long as he wishes. They deserve him.

Meanwhile, to date, the majority of Cambodian voters don’t see anything in store given by the oppositions; they have seen only empty promises. In additions the news and special events created by the oppositions are more of the same—disunity and disorganize.