List of prime ministers of Cambodia

Last updated

The prime minister of Cambodia is the head of government of the Kingdom of Cambodia. The prime minister is also the chairman of the Council of Ministers, and represents the government at home and abroad. Under the current constitution, the prime minister is elected to a five-year term, with no limits imposed on the office. Since 1945, there have been 36 prime ministers, including 4 who served in acting capacity. [1]

Contents

Constitutionally the prime minister is required to be a member of the National Assembly. He must also gain their approval through a resolution before an official appointment by the King can take place. The traditional swearing-in ceremony takes place at the Royal Palace where the prime minister-elect has to take an oath of office in front of the King and the two Patriarch monks.

The current prime minister of Cambodia is Hun Manet, since 22 August 2023. [2]

List of officeholders

Political parties
   Democratic Party
   Sangkum
   Khmer Serei
   Social Republican Party
   National United Front of Kampuchea
   Communist Party of Kampuchea
   Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Party → Cambodian People's Party
   FUNCINPEC
Other factions
   Military (FARK / FANK)
   Independent politician
No.PortraitName
(Lifespan)
ElectionTerm of officePolitical party Head of state
(Reign/Tenure)
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
1 Sihanouk Harcourt 1948.jpg King
Norodom Sihanouk

នរោត្តម សីហនុ
(1922–2012)
18 March
1945
13 August
1945
148 days Independent Norodom Sihanouk 1941.jpg
King
Norodom Sihanouk
(1941–1955)
2 Son Ngoc Thanh in 1936 (cropped).jpg Sơn Ngọc Thành
សឹង ង៉ុក ថាញ់
(1908–1977)
14 August
1945
16 October
1945
63 days Independent
3 Prince Sisowath Monireth 1953.png Prince
Sisowath Monireth

ស៊ីសុវត្ថិ មុន្នីរ៉េត
(1909–1975)
17 October
1945
15 December
1946
1 year, 59 days Independent
4 Prince Sisowath Youtevong (cropped).jpg Prince
Sisowath Youtevong

ស៊ីសុវត្ថិ យុត្តិវង្ស
(1913–1947)
1946 15 December
1946
17 July
1947†
214 days Democratic
5 Prince Sisowath Watchayavong.jpg Prince
Sisowath Watchayavong

ស៊ីសុវត្ថិ វឌ្ឍឆាយាវង្ស
(1891–1972)
25 July
1947
20 February
1948
210 days Democratic
6 Coat of arms of Cambodia (1864-1970).svg Chhean Vam
ឈាន វម
(1916–2000)
1947 20 February
1948
14 August
1948
176 days Democratic
7 Samdech Penn Nouth (1947).jpg Samdech
Penn Nouth

ប៉ែន នុត
(1906–1985)
15 August
1948
21 January
1949
159 days Democratic
8 Coat of arms of Cambodia (1864-1970).svg Yem Sambaur
យ៉ែម សំបូរ
(1913–1989)
12 February
1949
20 September
1949
220 days Democratic
9 Portrait of Ieu Koeus.jpg Ieu Koeus
អៀវ កើស
(1905–1950)
20 September
1949
29 September
1949
9 days Democratic
(8) Coat of arms of Cambodia (1864-1970).svg Yem Sambaur
យ៉ែម សំបូរ
(1913–1989)
29 September
1949
28 April
1950
211 days Democratic
(1) Sihanouk Harcourt 1948.jpg King
Norodom Sihanouk

នរោត្តម សីហនុ
(1922–2012)
28 April
1950
30 May
1950
32 days Independent
10 Prince Sisowath Monipong, 1950.jpg Prince
Sisowath Monipong

ស៊ីសុវត្ថិ មុនីពង្ស
(1912–1956)
30 May
1950
3 March
1951
277 days Independent
11 Coat of arms of Cambodia (1864-1970).svg Oum Chheang Sun
អ៊ុំ ឈាងស៊ុន
(1900–1963)
3 March
1951
12 October
1951
223 days Democratic
12 Coat of arms of Cambodia (1864-1970).svg Huy Kanthoul
ហ៊ុយ កន្ធុល
(1909–1991)
1951 13 October
1951
16 June
1952
247 days Democratic
(1) Sihanouk 1959.jpg King
Norodom Sihanouk

នរោត្តម សីហនុ
(1922–2012)
16 June
1952
24 January
1953
222 days Independent
(7) Samdech Penn Nouth (1947).jpg Samdech
Penn Nouth

ប៉ែន នុត
(1906–1985)
24 January
1953
22 November
1953
302 days Democratic
13 Coat of arms of Cambodia (1864-1970).svg Chan Nak
ចាន់ ណាក់
(1892–1954)
23 November
1953
7 April
1954
135 days Independent
(1) Sihanouk 1959.jpg King
Norodom Sihanouk

នរោត្តម សីហនុ
(1922–2012)
7 April
1954
18 April
1954
11 days Independent
(7) Samdech Penn Nouth (1947).jpg Samdech
Penn Nouth

ប៉ែន នុត
(1906–1985)
18 April
1954
26 January
1955
283 days Democratic
14 LengNgeth leng ngaet inRangoon 19550428.jpg Leng Ngeth
ឡេង ង៉ែត
(1900–1975)
26 January
1955
3 October
1955
250 days Democratic
Portrait of Norodom Suramarit.jpg
King
Norodom Suramarit
(1955–1960)
(1) Sihanouk 1959.jpg Prince
Norodom Sihanouk

នរោត្តម សីហនុ
(1922–2012)
1955 3 October
1955
5 January
1956
94 days Sangkum
(11) Coat of arms of Cambodia (1864-1970).svg Oum Chheang Sun
អ៊ុំ ឈាងស៊ុន
(1900–1963)
5 January
1956
29 February
1956
55 days Sangkum
(1) Sihanouk 1959.jpg Prince
Norodom Sihanouk

នរោត្តម សីហនុ
(1922–2012)
1 March
1956
24 March
1956
23 days Sangkum
15 Khim-Tit, Souverains et notabilites d'Indochine.png Khim Tit
ឃឹម ទិត
(1896–1975)
3 April
1956
29 July
1956
117 days Sangkum
(1) Sihanouk 1959.jpg Prince
Norodom Sihanouk

នរោត្តម សីហនុ
(1922–2012)
15 September
1956
15 October
1956
30 days Sangkum
16 Coat of arms of Cambodia (1864-1970).svg San Yun
សាន យន់
(1905–1974)
25 October
1956
9 April
1957
166 days Sangkum
(1) Sihanouk 1959.jpg Prince
Norodom Sihanouk

នរោត្តម សីហនុ
(1922–2012)
9 April
1957
7 July
1957
89 days Sangkum
17 Coat of arms of Cambodia (1864-1970).svg Sim Var
ស៊ឹម វ៉ា
(1906–1989)
26 July
1957
11 January
1958
169 days Sangkum
18 Coat of arms of Cambodia (1864-1970).svg Ek Yi Oun
ឯក យីអ៊ុន
(1910–2013)
11 January
1958
17 January
1958
6 days Sangkum
(7) Samdech Penn Nouth (1947).jpg Samdech
Penn Nouth

ប៉ែន នុត
(1906–1985)
17 January
1958
24 April
1958
97 days Sangkum
(17) Coat of arms of Cambodia (1864-1970).svg Sim Var
ស៊ឹម វ៉ា
(1906–1989)
1958 24 April
1958
10 July
1958
77 days Sangkum
(1) Sihanouk 1959.jpg Prince
Norodom Sihanouk

នរោត្តម សីហនុ
(1922–2012)
10 July
1958
19 April
1960
1 year, 284 days Sangkum
Sihanouk 1959.jpg
Prince
Norodom Sihanouk
(1960–1970)
19 Coat of arms of Cambodia (1864-1970).svg Pho Proeung
ផូ ព្រឿង
(1903–1975)
19 April
1960
28 January
1961
284 days Independent
(7) Samdech Penn Nouth (1947).jpg Samdech
Penn Nouth

ប៉ែន នុត
(1906–1985)
28 January
1961
17 November
1961
293 days Sangkum
(1) Sihanouk 1959.jpg Prince
Norodom Sihanouk

នរោត្តម សីហនុ
(1922–2012)
17 November
1961
13 February
1962
88 days Sangkum
Nhiek Tioulong.jpg General
Nhiek Tioulong

ញឹក ជូឡុង
(1908–1996)
Acting Prime Minister
13 February
1962
6 August
1962
174 days Sangkum
Chau-Sen-Cocsal-Chhum.jpg Samdech
Chau Sen Cocsal

ចៅ សែនកុសល
(1905–2009)
Acting Prime Minister
6 August
1962
6 October
1962
61 days Sangkum
20 Coat of arms of Cambodia (1864-1970).svg Prince
Norodom Kantol

នរោត្តម កន្តុល
(1920–1976)
1962 6 October
1962
25 October
1966
4 years, 19 days Sangkum
21 LonNol.jpg Marshal
Lon Nol

លន់ នល់
(1913–1985)
1966 25 October
1966
1 May
1967
188 days Sangkum
22 Coat of arms of Cambodia (1864-1970).svg Samdech
Son Sann

សឺន សាន
(1911–2000)
1 May
1967
31 January
1968
275 days Sangkum
(7) Samdech Penn Nouth (1947).jpg Samdech
Penn Nouth

ប៉ែន នុត
(1906–1985)
31 January
1968
14 August
1969
1 year, 195 days Sangkum
(21) LonNol.jpg Marshal
Lon Nol

លន់ នល់
(1913–1985)
14 August
1969
11 March
1971
1 year, 209 days Sangkum /
FARK (ARK)
Coat of arms of The Khmer Republic.svg
Cheng Heng
(1970–1972)
23 Sisowath Sirik Matak.jpg Prince
Sisowath Sirik Matak

ស៊ីសុវត្ថិ សិរិមតៈ
(1914–1975)
11 March
1971
18 March
1972
1 year, 7 days FANK (ANK)
LonNol.jpg
President
Lon Nol
(1972–1975)
(2) Son Ngoc Thanh in 1936 (cropped).jpg Sơn Ngọc Thành
សឹង ង៉ុក ថាញ់
(1908–1977)
18 March
1972
15 October
1972
211 days Khmer Serei
24 Coat of arms of The Khmer Republic.svg Hang Thun Hak
ហង្ស ធុនហាក់
(1926–1975)
1972 15 October
1972
6 May
1973
203 days PRS
25 Coat of arms of The Khmer Republic.svg In Tam
អ៊ិន តាំ
(1916–2006)
6 May
1973
9 December
1973
217 days Democratic
26 Coat of arms of The Khmer Republic.svg Long Boret
ឡុង បូរ៉េត
(1933–1975)
26 December
1973
17 April
1975†
1 year, 129 days PRS
(7) Samdech Penn Nouth (1947).jpg Samdech
Penn Nouth

ប៉ែន នុត
(1906–1985)
17 April
1975
4 April
1976
353 days FUNK Norodom Sihanouk (1983).jpg
Prince
Norodom Sihanouk
(1975–1976)
Khieu Samphan 1978.jpg Khieu Samphan
ខៀវ សំផន
(born 1931)
Acting Prime Minister
4 April
1976
14 April
1976
10 days CPK
Khieu Samphan 1978.jpg
Khieu Samphan
(1976–1979)
27 Pol Pot.jpg Pol Pot
ប៉ុល ពត
(1925–1998)
1976 14 April
1976
27 September
1976
166 days CPK
Nuon Chea on 31 October 2013.jpg Nuon Chea
នួន ជា
(1926–2019)
Acting Prime Minister
27 September
1976
25 October
1976
28 days CPK
(27) Pol Pot.jpg Pol Pot
ប៉ុល ពត
(1925–1998)
25 October
1976
7 January
1979
2 years, 74 days CPK
Office vacant: 7 January 1979 – 27 June 1981 Samdech Heng Samrin 2018 cropped.jpg
Heng Samrin
(1979–1992)
28 Emblem of the People's Republic of Kampuchea (1981-1989).svg Pen Sovan
ប៉ែន សុវណ្ណ
(1936–2016)
1981 27 June
1981
5 December
1981
161 days KPRP
29 Emblem of the People's Republic of Kampuchea (1981-1989).svg Chan Sy
ចាន់ ស៊ី
(1932–1984)
9 February
1982
26 December
1984†
2 years, 321 days KPRP
30 Hun Sen in July 2019.jpg Samdech
Hun Sen

ហ៊ុន សែន
(born 1952)
26 December
1984
14 January
1985
19 days KPRP Chea Sim 3x4.jpg
Chea Sim
(1992–1993)
14 January
1985
2 July
1993
8 years, 169 days
31 Ranariddh 1990s.jpg Prince
Norodom Ranariddh

នរោត្តម រណឫទ្ធិ
(1944–2021)
First Prime Minister
1993 2 July
1993
6 August
1997
4 years, 35 days FUNCINPEC Norodom Sihanouk (1983).jpg
King
Norodom Sihanouk
(1993–2004)
(30) Hun Sen July 2019.jpg Samdech
Hun Sen

ហ៊ុន សែន
(born 1952)
Second Prime Minister
24 September
1993
30 November
1998
5 years, 70 days CPP
32 Royal arms of Cambodia.svg Ung Huot
អ៊ឹង ហួត
(born 1945)
First Prime Minister
6 August
1997
30 November
1998
1 year, 116 days FUNCINPEC
(30) Hun Sen July 2019.jpg Samdech
Hun Sen

ហ៊ុន សែន
(born 1952)
1998 30 November
1998
22 August
2023
24 years, 265 days CPP
2003
King Norodom Sihamoni (2019).jpg
King
Norodom Sihamoni
(since 2004)
2008
2013
2018
33 Hun Manet 2023.jpg Samdech
Hun Manet

ហ៊ុន ម៉ាណែត
(born 1977)
2023 22 August
2023
Incumbent254 days CPP
Sources: [3] [4]

Timeline

Hun ManetUng HuotNorodom RanariddhHun SenChan SyPen SovanPol PotLong BoretIn TamHang Thun HakSisowath Sirik MatakSon SannLon NolNorodom KantolPho ProeungEk Yi OunSim VarSan YunKhim TitLeng NgethChan NakHuy KanthoulOum Chheang SunSisowath MonipongIeu KoeusYem SambaurPenn NouthChhean VamSisowath WatchayavongSisowath YoutevongSisowath MonirethSon Ngoc ThanhNorodom SihanoukList of prime ministers of Cambodia

See also

Notes

    Related Research Articles

    The politics of Cambodia are defined within the framework of a constitutional monarchy, in which the king serves as the head of state, and the prime minister is the head of government. The collapse of communism set in motion events that led to the withdrawal of the Vietnamese armed forces, which had established their presence in the country since the fall of the Khmer Rouge. The 1993 constitution, which is currently in force, was promulgated as a result of the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements, followed by elections organized under the aegis of the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia. The constitution declares Cambodia to be an "independent, sovereign, peaceful, permanently neutral and non-aligned country." The constitution also proclaims a liberal, multiparty democracy in which powers are devolved to the executive, the judiciary and the legislature. However, there is no effective opposition to the Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has been in power from 1984 up to 2023. His Cambodian People's Party won all 125 seats in the National Assembly in 2018 after the banning of opposition party CNRP and KNLF. KNLF became a main opposition exiled in Denmark after CNRP was dissolved. During the communal election in 2022 and the national election in 2023, there were no international observers. The government is considered to be autocratic.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Norodom Sihanouk</span> Cambodian statesman (1922–2012)

    Norodom Sihanouk was a Cambodian statesman, Sangkum and FUNCINPEC politician, film director, and composer who led Cambodia in various capacities throughout his long career, most often as both King and Prime Minister of Cambodia. In Cambodia, he is known as Samdech Euv. During his lifetime, Cambodia was under various regimes, from French colonial rule, a Japanese puppet state (1945), an independent kingdom (1953–1970), a military republic (1970–1975), the Khmer Rouge regime (1975–1979), a Vietnamese-backed communist regime (1979–1989), a transitional communist regime (1989–1993) to eventually another kingdom.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Cambodia</span> Country in Southeast Asia

    Cambodia, officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country in Mainland Southeast Asia, spanning an area of 181,035 square kilometres, bordered by Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the north, Vietnam to the east, and the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest. The capital and most populous city is Phnom Penh.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Modern Cambodia</span> History of Cambodia since 1989

    After the fall of the Pol Pot regime of Democratic Kampuchea, Cambodia was under Vietnamese occupation and a pro-Hanoi government, the People's Republic of Kampuchea, was established. A civil war raged during the 1980s opposing the government's Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Armed Forces against the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea, a government in exile composed of three Cambodian political factions: Prince Norodom Sihanouk's FUNCINPEC party, the Party of Democratic Kampuchea and the Khmer People's National Liberation Front (KPNLF).

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Hun Sen</span> Prime Minister of Cambodia from 1998 to 2023

    Samdech Hun Sen is a Cambodian politician, dictator, and former military general who currently serves as the president of the Senate. He previously served as the prime minister of Cambodia from 1985 to 2023. Hun Sen is the longest-serving head of government in Cambodia's history. He is the president of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP), which has governed Cambodia since 1979, and has served as a member of the Senate since 2024. His full honorary title is Samdech Akeakmohasenapadey Techo Hunsen.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Cambodian People's Party</span> Ruling party of Cambodia

    The Cambodian People's Party (CPP) is a Cambodian political party which has ruled the country since 1979. Founded in 1951, it was originally known as the Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Party (KPRP).

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Norodom Sihamoni</span> King of Cambodia since 2004

    Norodom Sihamoni is King of Cambodia. He became King on 14 October 2004, a week after the abdication of his father, Norodom Sihanouk.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Chea Sim</span> Cambodian politician (1932–2015)

    Chea Sim was a Cambodian politician. He was President of the Cambodian People's Party from 1991 to 2015, President of the National Assembly of Cambodia from 1981 to 1998 and President of the Senate from 1999 to 2015. His official title was Samdech Akka Moha Thomma Pothisal Chea Sim.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Heng Samrin</span> Cambodian politician

    Heng Samrin is a Cambodian politician who served as the President of the National Assembly of Cambodia (2006–2023). Between 1979 and 1992, he was the de facto leader of the Hanoi-backed People's Republic of Kampuchea (1979–1989) and State of Cambodia (1989–1992) and General Secretary of the Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Party (1981–1991).

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Cambodian Armed Forces</span> Combined military forces of Cambodia

    The Royal Cambodian Armed Forces is Cambodia's national military force. The Supreme Commander-in-Chief is King Norodom Sihamoni. Since 2018, General Vong Pisen has been the Commander-in-Chief of the RCAF as head of the Army, Navy, Air Force and the Gendarmerie. The armed forces operate under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of National Defence. Under the country's constitution, the RCAF is charged with protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Prime Minister of Cambodia</span> Head of government of Cambodia

    The prime minister of Cambodia is the head of government of Cambodia. The prime minister is also the chairman of the Cabinet and leads the executive branch of the Royal Government of Cambodia. The prime minister is a member of parliament, and is appointed by the monarch for a term of five years. Since 1945, 37 individuals have served as prime minister; 33 as official prime ministers, and 4 in acting capacities. The current prime minister since 2023 is Hun Manet.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">People's Republic of Kampuchea</span> Cambodian communist regime (1979–1989)

    The People's Republic of Kampuchea (PRK) was a partially recognised state in Southeast Asia which existed from 1979 to 1989. It was a client state of Vietnam, founded in Cambodia by the Vietnamese-backed Kampuchean United Front for National Salvation, a group of Cambodian communists who were dissatisfied with the Khmer Rouge due to its oppressive rule and defected from it after the overthrow of Democratic Kampuchea, Pol Pot's government. Brought about by an invasion from Vietnam, which routed the Khmer Rouge armies, it had Vietnam and the Soviet Union as its main allies.

    General elections were held in Cambodia on 1 May 1981 and marked the establishment of the new, Vietnamese-backed, state of the People's Republic of Kampuchea (PRK). The Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Party was the only party to contest the election, and won all 117 seats. Voter turnout was reported to be 97.8%.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Cabinet of Cambodia</span> Executive of Cambodia

    The Cabinet of Cambodia, officially known as the Office of the Council of Ministers, is the executive body of the Kingdom of Cambodia led by the Prime Minister, assisted by Deputy Prime Ministers, Senior Ministers, Ministers, and Secretaries of State. Members of the Cabinet are nominated by the Prime Minister and appointed by the Monarch.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Hun Manet</span> Prime Minister of Cambodia since 2023

    Samdech Hun Manet is a Cambodian politician and general who has been serving as the prime minister of Cambodia since 2023, succeeding his father, Hun Sen. He is also the vice president of the ruling Cambodian People's Party. Prior to his political appointment, he served in the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) as deputy commander-in-chief and the commander of the Royal Cambodian Army. Upon appointment as prime minister, he was granted the highest civilian honorary title of Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Cambodian general election</span>

    General elections were held in Cambodia on 23 July 2023 to elect members of the National Assembly. The Cambodian People's Party (CPP) held all seats in parliament prior to the elections.

    Events in the year 2023 in Cambodia.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Cabinet of Hun Manet</span>

    The seventh Council of Ministers was formed on 22 August 2023. It is led by prime minister Hun Manet, making it the first government in 38 years to not be led by Hun Sen following his resignation. In addition, veteran politicians including Sar Kheng, Tea Banh and Men Sam An also relinquished their positions.

    References

    1. "PM office 'first held power with Pol Pot". The Phnom Penh Post. 23 August 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
    2. "King issues Royal Decree appointing new Council of Ministers with HE Dr. Hun Manet as Prime Minister". Khmer Times. 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
    3. "Cambodia". rulers.org. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
    4. Lentz, Harris M. (2013). Heads of States and Governments Since 1945. Taylor & Francis Group. pp. 132–138. ISBN   978-1-884964-44-2 . Retrieved 20 June 2020.