Cambodia’s PM says he will resign, his son will take over on August 10

Cambodia's Hun Sen said in a speech on Wednesday he would step down as prime minister, and that his son Hun Manet would take over in the coming weeks.

"Hun Manet...will become the prime minister in the coming weeks," he said, adding the new premier will be appointed on August 10, reports Reuters.

Hun Sen, who has ruled the Southeast Asian country for nearly 40 years, was speaking just days after his ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) swept a general election after running virtually unopposed.

"I will continue as the head of the ruling party and member of the National Assembly," he said.

The newly elected parliament would convene on Aug 21 and a new cabinet would be sworn in on Aug 22, Hun Sen said.

BBC says Hun Sen, 70, has ruled Cambodia since 1985 and been criticised for his increasingly authoritarian rule.

He first flagged a power transition to his eldest son Hun Manet in 2020.

But until Wednesday, observers had not been sure when exactly that handover would occur.

"I would like to ask for understanding from the people as I announce that I will not continue as prime minister," he said in a special broadcast on state television.

He said he would be stepping down as staying in office could cause instability.

His son, Hun Manet, was until recently, the commander of the Royal Cambodian Army, and has been groomed for the position for years.

He took a leading role in campaigning for the 23 July election this year- and was often spotted leading rallies next to his father, who has ruled the Southeast Asian nation of 16 million people for 38 years.

Saturday's election was widely seen as a done deal- because the only credible opposition party was disqualified from the vote.