17 March 2016•Update: 22 March 2016
By Lauren Crothers
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia
Cambodia’s long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen has begun a reshuffle of his cabinet for the first time, as part of a mid-term bid to bolster his government before heading into the upcoming election season.
Council of Ministers spokesperson Phay Siphan told Anadolu Agency Thursday that there is some anxiety surrounding the next round of appointments, which he described as a “turning point”.
He added, however, that the move has sent a message to government officials that complacency will not be tolerated.
The Phnom Penh Post reported Thursday that documents requesting the reshuffle were forwarded to the National Assembly the previous day, but that their contents were not disclosed.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Siphan said no one from the government side knew the contents except for 63-year-old Hun Sen, who has ruled Cambodia for over 30 years.
“I feel like everyone, the people, as well as members of government, are anxious to know who is becoming whom,” he said, adding that government ministers must see five years “as a full term serving the government”.
“It sends a good message that everyone has to be a good service provider… that we don’t feel like everyone has a 100-percent right [to remain in the job if they are underperforming],” he underlined. “It’s for the national interest that the prime minister has a right to reshuffle for better services for the people… and its for good governance, accountability and transparency.”
The current government was installed following a contentious and disputed election in July 2013, after which the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) boycotted its 55 seats for 10 months until a deal was struck.
The ruling Cambodian People's Party suffered an unprecedented 22-seat loss in parliament after the polls.
CNRP spokesperson Yim Sovann told AA Thursday that although he had not seen the reshuffle documents, he believed that “naturally and politically, change is good”.
“But in this situation, we have to consider three factors: human resources, policy and political will and conflict of interest,” he added.
He stressed that the third point is one his party will be watching closely as the reshuffle is announced. “When there is a reshuffle, I hope that there is a positive change, but we will wait and see until it is done,” he said.
The next general election in the country is scheduled for 2018.
