In his first year as Cambodia’s new prime minister, Hun Manet has walked a fine line between honouring his father’s legacy and charting a new, more technocratic course for the nation. He has continued to prioritise strong ties with China since taking office, while also emphasising stability, continuity and “maintaining the status quo”, analysts say.
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Sworn in as the successor to his father, Hun Sen, who reigned for nearly four decades, Hun Manet acknowledged the weight of his predecessor’s influence during his acceptance speech to the National Assembly, Cambodia’s lower house of parliament, last August. He expressed his gratitude for the trust placed in him, stating that the lessons learned from his father and former ministers would serve as “permanent fixtures within our consciences and consciousness”.
Hun Manet’s first year in charge has been defined by a series of strategic initiatives aimed at bolstering Cambodia’s international standing, according to political scientist Sophal Ear, an associate professor at Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management.
His diplomatic travels to China, France, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia and others highlight a commitment to strengthening alliances – particularly with Beijing, as evidenced by the ambitious, Chinese-funded US$1.7 billion Funan Techo Canal project. This 180km artificial waterway not only aims to connect Phnom Penh to the Gulf of Thailand, but also reduce Cambodia’s reliance on Vietnamese ports.
“Domestically, Hun Manet has faced the challenge of ensuring stability and continuity” while seemingly attempting to infuse his administration with a modern approach to governance, Ear said.
Civil servants hold photographs of Hun Manet and his father Hun Sen during a groundbreaking ceremony for the China-funded Funan Techo Canal project in August. Photo: AP
“However, the legacy and governance style of his father are difficult to entirely distance [himself] from, which poses a challenge in shifting public and international perceptions.”
