Cambodia

Hun Sen Named Acting President of Ruling Party

  • Heng Reaksmey
    VOA Khmer

From left: Cambodian National Assembly President Heng Samrin, Senate President Chea Sim, Prime Minister Hun Sen, attend ceremony, Phnom Penh, Jan. 7, 2014.

PHNOM PENH — 

Prime Minister Hun Sen has been named acted president of the Cambodian People’s Party, temporarily taking over duties for Chea Sim.

Chea Sim, 83, is a party stalwart and head of the Senate. He has fallen ill in recent months and has not appeared at key CPP events.

Chhim Phal Vorun, a spokesman for the party, said the position is temporary, and a permanent replacement is not being considered.

“We need not think about that yet,” he said.

A bodyguard for Chea Sim said he is recovering in a hospital in Vietnam and will return to Cambodia for the upcoming Chinese New Year.