Cambodian King Suggests Hun Sen Remain as Premier

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, August 11, 2003

Cambodian King Suggests Hun Sen Remain as Premier

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Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk proposed that incumbent Prime Minister Hun Sen remain as the leader of the government, which may help to break the current stalemate on the forming of a new government, according to local media reports Monday.

In a French-language statement on his web site Friday, the King suggested that "Hun Sen will remain as prime minister of the royal government."

The king also said that "if Samdech Hun Sen wants," the Sam Rainsy Party leader Sam Rainsy or FUNCINPEC party's Secretary General Prince Norodom Sirivudh could serve as deputy prime minister along with the CPP's current deputy prime minister Sar Kheng.

He said the problem is "simple, but if some politicians and political parties want to make it complicated, then there will inevitably be unrest, a grave political crisis and national division."

The King made the proposal after the two major parties, FUNCIPEC led by his son Prince Norodom Ranariddh and the opposition Sam Rainsy Party (CPP) vowed to reject the election results or join the coalition with the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) unless Hun Sen resigns as prime minister.

Analysts said the revered monarch's suggestion may help to solve the stalemate over the forming of the next government, though the King stressed his neutral position in Cambodia's political.

The monarch also suggested that CPP President Chea Sim serve as president of the Senate and CPP's honorary president Heng Samrin could become president to the National Assembly, which was occupied by Prince Norodom Ranariddh.

But the king did not say what the position his son Ranariddh should serve in the two legislative chambers or in the government.

According to preliminary election results, the CPP dominated the July 27 polling, but once again fell short of the two-thirds majority that it needs to govern alone. So it needs to cooperate with either FUNCINPEC or the SRP, perhaps even both, to form a coalition government.

Both the SRP or FUNCINPEC did not made any official comment on King's suggestion.

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