- Born:
- October 20, 1977, Mémót district, Kâmpóng Cham province (now in Tbong Khmŭm province), Cambodia (age 49)
- Title / Office:
- prime minister (2023-), Cambodia
- Political Affiliation:
- Cambodian People’s Party
- Notable Family Members:
- father Hun Sen
Hun Manet
-
Who is Hun Manet?
Hun Manet, born on October 20, 1977, is a Cambodian politician who became prime minister in 2023, succeeding his father, Hun Sen, who had ruled for almost four decades. He is the eldest of five children born to Hun Sen and Bun Rany.
Manet's early education culminated in becoming the first Cambodian to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1999. He furthered his studies in economics, earning degrees from New York University and the University of Bristol.
Before becoming prime minister, Hun Manet had a long career in the Cambodian military. He joined the military in 1995 and ascended through the ranks, eventually becoming a four-star general in 2023, the highest military rank in Cambodia. In addition to his military career, Hun Manet gained political experience as a member of the standing committee of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) from 2018.
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What country is Hun Manet a politician in?
Hun Manet is a Cambodian politician who became prime minister in 2023, succeeding his father, Hun Sen, who had been in power since 1985. Before becoming prime minister, Hun Manet had a long career in the Cambodian military, joining in 1995. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a major general in 2011. In 2018, he became a member of the standing committee of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP).
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What important positions has Hun Manet held in Cambodia?
Hun Manet has held several important positions in Cambodia. Before becoming prime minister in 2023, he had a long career in the military, joining in 1995. He quickly rose through the ranks after returning from the United Kingdom, becoming a major general in January 2011.
Key positions include:
* Deputy commander of the army
* Deputy chairman of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) Joint Staff
* Deputy commander in chief of the RCAF (2019)
* Leader of the counterterrorism team
* Deputy chief of the prime minister’s bodyguard unitOutside the military, he became a member of the standing committee of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) in 2018 and head of the party’s youth wing in 2020. In 2023, he was promoted to four-star general, the highest military rank in Cambodia. Hun Sen named Hun Manet his successor in 2021.
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How is Hun Manet related to Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen?
Hun Manet, born on October 20, 1977, is a Cambodian politician who became prime minister in 2023. He took over the position from his father, Hun Sen, who had been the prime minister of Cambodia for almost four decades, from 1985 to 2023. In July 2023, Hun Sen declared that he would step down as prime minister the following month, with Hun Manet succeeding him.
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What education or military experience does Hun Manet have?
Hun Manet's education includes a bachelor's degree from the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York (1999), a master's degree in economics from New York University (2002), and a Ph.D. from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom (2008).
Manet joined the Cambodian military in 1995 and quickly rose through the ranks after returning from the United Kingdom. He became a major general in January 2011, after serving as deputy commander of the army and deputy chairman of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) Joint Staff for a month. In 2019, he was appointed deputy commander in chief of the RCAF and head of the counterterrorism team. He also served as deputy chief of the prime minister's bodyguard unit. In 2023, he reached the highest military rank in Cambodia when he was promoted to four-star general.
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How has Hun Manet influenced Cambodia’s politics since becoming Prime Minister?
Since becoming Prime Minister of Cambodia in August 2023, Hun Manet has stated his focus is to improve the economy and social justice, though he has not provided a clear direction on how he will achieve these goals. He has also defended the legitimacy of the 2023 elections, despite criticism.
International media has noted the handover of power from Hun Sen to his son as a significant generational transition, as a majority of the country had only known Hun Sen as prime minister. It remains to be seen whether Hun Manet will implement reforms or continue his father’s policies.
The ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) secured another landslide victory in the 2023 parliamentary elections, but faced no real challenge because the only opposition party was disqualified. Dissent was nearly eliminated leading up to the elections through the imprisonment of opposition politicians and the shutdown of independent media outlets. Hun Manet succeeded his father, Hun Sen, who ruled for almost four decades.
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Hun Manet (born October 20, 1977, Mémót district, Kâmpóng Cham province (now in Tbong Khmŭm province), Cambodia) is a Cambodian politician who became prime minister in 2023. He succeeded his father, Hun Sen, who ruled for almost four decades, from 1985 to 2023.
Early life and education
Hun Manet is the eldest son of five children born to Hun Sen and Bun Rany. Hun Sen later said in public speeches that Hun Manet is possibly a child of Neak Ta Anchanh Koh Thmar, a local powerful spirit, because, according to Hun Sen, several people witnessed a flashing light over his house when Hun Manet was born. Hun Manet grew up in Phnom Penh while Cambodia was going through a civil war.
Hun Manet was the first Cambodian to graduate from the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York (B.A., 1999). He also studied economics at New York University (M.A., 2002) and the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom (Ph.D., 2008). In 2006 Hun Manet married Pich Chanmony, the daughter of a Cambodian politician. Together they have two daughters and a son.
Career
Before succeeding his father as prime minister, Hun Manet had a long career in Cambodia’s military. Having joined the Cambodian military in 1995, Hun Manet ascended rapidly through the ranks once he returned to the country from the United Kingdom. After serving as deputy commander of the army and deputy chairman of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) Joint Staff for a month, he was promoted to major general in January 2011. Hun Manet was then named deputy commander in chief of the RCAF in 2019 and led the counterterrorism team. He was also named deputy chief of the prime minister’s bodyguard unit. Outside the military, Hun Manet accumulated political experience when he became a member of the standing committee of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) in 2018 and was chosen to head the party’s youth wing in 2020. In 2021 Hun Sen named Hun Manet his successor, saying, “Even if he cannot be like his father, at least his capacity should match that of his father by 80 or 90 percent.” The CPP’s central committee later endorsed Hun Manet as the next prime minister. In 2023 Hun Manet was promoted to four-star general, the highest military rank in Cambodia.
Hun Manet as prime minister
In July 2023 Hun Sen announced that he would resign as prime minister the next month and that Hun Manet would succeed him. Hun Sen also stated that he would remain as the head of the ruling party. The announcement came several days after the CPP declared victory in the 2023 parliamentary elections, in which the party faced no challenge because the only opposition party, the Candlelight Party, had been disqualified from running. In addition, through the imprisonment of several opposition politicians and the shutting down of one of the country’s major independent media outlets, dissent was nearly eliminated in the run-up to the elections.
Having been formally appointed prime minister by Cambodia’s king, Hun Manet was sworn in on August 22, 2023. Speaking to the National Assembly, he stated that it was “necessary to continue leading the country peacefully and securely and to maintain development and make reforms in all sectors.” International media remarked on the handover of the premiership from a father to his son as a significant generational transition, as about 75 percent of the country had only ever known Hun Sen as their prime minister. Whereas several experts have speculated whether Hun Manet would implement reforms or continue his father’s rule, Hun Manet has not provided a clear direction and instead stated that he would focus on improving the economy and social justice in Cambodia. In response to criticism about the legitimacy of the elections, Hun Manet said at a 2023 United Nations General Assembly session that they were “free and fair” and “credible and just.”