In rare comments on the political machinations inside the secretive CPP, Prime Minister Hun Sen dismissed rumors of a party dispute over his candidacy for next year’s elections, claiming he is his party’s only prime minister.
“I wish to declare publicly, for CPP there is no other candidate besides Hun Sen. Only if Hun Sen withdraws himself or dies will there be a new candidate,” he said.
Opposition newspapers have routinely reported rifts inside the CPP between the premier and CPP President Chea Sim—who opposition papers identify as the prime minister’s chief antagonist.
But Hun Sen said there was no such internal threat to his power.
“Twenty years ago, there were rumors around the CPP of conflict between Chea Sim and Hun Sen, but we are still united. Chea Sim and Hun Sen are both legs which cannot be separated,” Hun Sen told the National Assembly after a vote for the new National Election Committee.
“So other political parties, especially the [Sam Rainsy] opposition party, don’t create the problem to eliminate the CPP,” Hun Sen said.
Hun Sen also said the opposition party was riven by conflicts of its own over candidates for next year’s general elections.
“Actually they quarrel with each other,” Hun Sen said.
“My recommendation, please take more time and spend more time with the people and strengthen your own party,” he said.
Hun Sen has maintained an iron grip on Cambodian politics for over two decades and few observers expect him to bow out of the country’s political arena any time soon.
Despite losing the country’s first UN-organized elections in 1993, Hun Sen declined to hand over power to the royalists and was able to cut a coalition deal with Prince Norodom Ranariddh.
The CPP went on to win the 1998 elections, amid widespread allegations of vote rigging and political intimidation.
