Phnom Penh (FN), Dec. 29 – Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen said he waits to congratulate the prime minister candidate from the opposition parties if they have one, speaking at the inauguration of the administration building of the Ministry of National Defense on Wednesday.

“They can choose whoever they want for the next generation leaders and I congratulate them if they have one,” the premier added.

Former president of the Khmer Power Party Sourn Serey Ratha said on Tuesday that convict Sam Rainey’s attempt to criticize Hun Manet’s candidacy reflected his jealousy of the ruling party.

The reaction came after convict Rainsy publicly misled Hun Manet's candidacy through social media as well as the opposition and foreign media.

In a recent interview with foreign-backed Radio Free Asia, Rainsy said he already recruited the future leaders of the opposition party and he did mention that he chose the candidates based on their talents in communicating and working.

The premier called the former opposition leaders’ efforts to ruin Hun Manet's popularity “an old man trying to compete with a child.”

Hun Manet was elected as candidate of future Cambodia's prime minister during the 43rd Central Committee Meeting of the 5th Mandate of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) held on 24 December 2021.

Manet is the eldest son of Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen and Bun Rany. He is currently a deputy commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, army commander, and chairman of the Central Youth Committee of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP). Manet received a bachelor's degree from West Point in 1999, a Master of Arts in Economics from New York University in 2002, and a doctorate from the University of Bristol in 2008.
=FRESH NEWS