Prime Minister of Cambodia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia
Flag of Cambodia
Seal of the Cabinet of Cambodia
Incumbent Hun Manet since 22 August 2023
Office of the Council of Ministers Royal Government of Cambodia Office of the Prime Minister
Style	Mr. Prime Minister (informal) His Excellency (formal, diplomatic) Samdech (official, formal)
Member of	Council of Ministers Royal Council of the Throne
Reports to	National Assembly
Residence	Peace Palace
Seat	Phnom Penh
Nominator	Largest political party in parliament
Appointer	Monarch by royal decree
Term length	Five years, renewable, no term limits
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Cambodia
Formation	18 March 1945; 80 years ago (1945-03-18)
First holder	Norodom Sihanouk
Deputy	Deputy Prime Minister
Salary	10,000,000 KHR/US$ 2,490 per month

The Prime Minister of Cambodia is the leader of the government in Cambodia. Think of them as the main boss of the country's daily operations. They also lead the group of ministers, called the Cabinet, who help run the country.

The Prime Minister is a member of the parliament and is chosen by the King for a five-year term. Since 1945, many people have held this important job. The current Prime Minister, since 2023, is Hun Manet.

History of the Prime Minister Role

The role of Prime Minister in Cambodia began in March 1945. At that time, Cambodia was under French control. King Norodom Sihanouk was the first person to hold this position. He worked with Japan and declared Cambodia's independence from France. He then became Prime Minister and formed the first government.

After a short time, Son Ngoc Thanh took over. Later in 1945, the French returned to control Cambodia.

Political Changes in Cambodia

In 1946, France allowed political parties and elections in Cambodia for the first time. The Democratic Party was very strong in the 1940s. Then, in 1955, a new party called Sangkum became the only legal party. This lasted until 1970, when a military leader named Lon Nol took control.

In 1993, Cambodia became a constitutional monarchy again. This means the country has a King, but the government is run by elected officials. The role of the Prime Minister was officially recognized in the country's main law, the constitution.

Prince Norodom Ranariddh was seen as the first Prime Minister chosen through a democratic election. This election was supported by the United Nations. For a short time, Hun Sen and Prince Norodom Ranariddh shared the Prime Minister role. However, in 1997, Hun Sen took full control. Since then, Hun Sen and his party have won every election. Unlike in some other countries, the Prime Minister in Cambodia serves a fixed five-year term and cannot call an early election.

How the Prime Minister is Chosen

To become Prime Minister, a person must first be a member of parliament. They need to be elected by most members of parliament. After being chosen, they have a special ceremony at the Royal Palace. Here, the new Prime Minister takes an oath, promising to do their job well. This happens in front of the King and religious leaders.

After this, the Prime Minister announces their team of ministers, called the Cabinet. A new government must be formed within 60 days after an election. The Prime Minister also gets help from several Deputy Prime Ministers.

In 2022, a change was made to the constitution. Now, the Prime Minister no longer needs a majority vote in parliament to be elected. If the Prime Minister leaves office or passes away, a temporary Prime Minister is chosen.

The Prime Minister's Office

The Prime Minister's Office

The main workplace for the Prime Minister is the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh. It was opened in 2010. However, the Prime Minister lives in their own private home.

What the Prime Minister Does

The Constitution of Cambodia explains the powers and duties of the Prime Minister. Here are some of the key things they do:

• Working with the King: The Prime Minister helps the King with important decisions, like declaring a state of emergency if the country is in danger. They also meet with the King twice a month to discuss the country's situation.
• Leading the Government: The Prime Minister is in charge of the Council of Ministers, which is the government of Cambodia. They lead meetings and make sure the government's plans are carried out.
• Working with Parliament: The Prime Minister can suggest new laws. They also answer questions from members of parliament about the government's actions and policies.
• Forming the Government: After an election, the King chooses a person from the winning party to be Prime Minister. This person then forms the new government with other ministers.
• National Meetings: The Prime Minister calls for a special national meeting once a year, led by the King, to discuss important issues.
• Changing the Constitution: The Prime Minister can suggest changes to the constitution, but these changes must be approved by a large majority of parliament members.

List of Prime Ministers of Cambodia

The following is a list of prime ministers of Cambodia after the restoration of the monarchy in 1993.

No.	Portrait	Prime minister (Lifespan)	Term of office			Political party		Mandate	Monarch Reign
			Start	End	Duration
1		Norodom Ranariddh នរោត្តម រណឫទ្ធិ (1944–2021)	24 September 1993	6 August 1997	3 years, 316 days		FUNCINPEC	1993	Norodom Sihanouk r. 1993 – 2004
2		Hun Sen ហ៊ុន សែន (born 1952)	24 September 1993	30 November 1998	5 years, 67 days		CPP
3		Ung Huot អ៊ឹង ហួត (born 1945)	6 August 1997	30 November 1998	1 year, 116 days		FUNCINPEC
(2)		Hun Sen ហ៊ុន សែន (born 1952)	30 November 1998	22 August 2023	24 years, 265 days		CPP	1998
								2003
								2008
									Norodom Sihamoni r. 2004 – present
								2013
								2018
4		Hun Manet ហ៊ុន ម៉ាណែត (born 1977)	22 August 2023	Incumbent	1 year, 300 days		CPP	2023

Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia

The Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia is like a second-in-command to the Prime Minister. This person is the second most important official in the Cabinet. As of November 2024, there are 12 Deputy Prime Ministers helping the Prime Minister.

See also

In Spanish: Primer ministro de Camboya para niños

• List of kings of Cambodia
• List of heads of state of Cambodia
• Cabinet of Cambodia
• Leader of the Opposition