International press says Hun Manet has failed in h | RSS.com
International media have reported that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has failed in his first two years in office, with critics pointing to his government’s inability to curb corruption, restore the rule of law, and reduce poverty.
The Diplomat, a Washington-based publication, wrote on September 17 that Cambodia remains among the world’s least developed countries, ranking 158th in global corruption indexes and 141st in the World Justice Project’s 2024 rule of law rankings. The magazine argued that these conditions have undermined the country’s long-term interests and harmed the well-being of its citizens.
It added that Hun Manet’s two years in power have been marked by the use of political repression, including the regular arrest and imprisonment of dozens of opposition members, unionists, environmental activists, and land rights defenders.
The report suggested that Cambodia’s aspirations to reach lower-middle income status face further setbacks from new US tariffs and declining foreign investment, both of which could slow economic growth.
The Diplomat also reflected on Cambodia’s tragic past under the Khmer Rouge, but said the country has now fallen under a new form of authoritarianism that suppresses citizens’ rights, leaving democracy as little more than an aspiration.
As of September 17, Hun Manet has been in office for two years and 27 days, after succeeding his father Hun Sen as prime minister on August 22, 2023.
Analysts and opposition politicians told The Cambodia Daily that Hun Manet’s leadership has so far operated under the shadow of his father, making him appear more like a prime minister-in-training than an independent leader.
Soeng Senkaruna, head of the Khmer Democracy Organization, said Hun Manet’s two years in office show he has governed largely under the direction of Hun Sen rather than through his own capacity or vision. He argued that despite more than two years as head of government, Hun Manet has yet to demonstrate the ability to lead Cambodia independently, as his father continues to hold decisive control.
