Cambodia’s newly elected parliament has endorsed military general Hun Manet as prime minister, completing a historic transfer of power in a fast-changing country led by his father for nearly four decades.
The western-educated Hun Manet, 45, had the backing of most of the National Assembly in proceedings screened live on television on Tuesday. He became eligible for the job after winning a seat in last month’s parliamentary elections, widely criticised as a sham.
His father, Hun Sen, a former Khmer Rouge guerrilla and self-style strongman, has pledged to remain in politics in other roles for at least a decade.
A graduate of the West Point military academy in the US, Hun Manet rose fast through the ranks of Cambodia’s armed forces and has served as head of counter-terrorism, deputy chief of his father’s bodyguard unit, army chief and deputy military commander.
He is also highly educated, with a masters degree from New York University and a doctorate from Britain’s Bristol University, both in economics, in stark contrast to his father, who had no formal education.
Little is known about Hun Manet’s vision for Cambodia, a country of 16 million people, few of whom have lived under a leader other than his father.
His first months in office will be watched by major powers for signs of whether he favours a more liberal approach and improvements in Cambodia’s strained ties with the West, or plans to keep the authoritarian status quo of his father and remain in China’s sphere of influence.
Under Hun Sen, Cambodia has moved closer to Beijing, benefiting from its investment. After the election – which was condemned as neither free nor fair by the US – China’s president, Xi Jinping, sent Hun Sen a personal message of congratulations.
Despite the transition of power, analysts say Hun Sen will remain a powerful force. He will remain head of the ruling Cambodian People’s party (CPP), and has said he will become head of the Senate and of the Supreme Council of the King.
Reuters contributed to this report