Politics of Cambodia

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This article is part of a series on the
Politics of Cambodia
Monarchy King Norodom Sihamoni Throne Council House of Norodom House of Sisowath (1904–41)
Government Prime Minister (list) Hun Manet Deputy Prime Ministers Vongsey Vissoth Aun Pornmoniroth Sar Sokha Tea Seiha Sun Chanthol Hangchuon Naron Say Sam Al Neth Savoeun Sok Chenda Sophea Hun Many Council of Ministers
Parliament Senate President: Hun Sen National Assembly President: Khuon Sodary Members
Elections National Election Committee Recent elections General: 2018 2023 Senate: 2018 2024 Communal: 2017 2022 Political parties
Foreign relations Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister: Prak Sokhonn Diplomatic missions of / in Cambodia Passport Visa requirements Visa policy
Administrative divisions Provinces Cities Districts Communes
Related issues Human rights LGBT rights Cambodian–Thai border dispute 2013–2014 Cambodian protests
Cambodia portal Politics portal Other countries
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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. In practice, Cambodia is an authoritarian state, as power is centralized in the hands of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) under long-standing leader Hun Sen.^[1][2][3] Civil society groups, independent media and opposition parties are repressed, and elections are not free and fair.^[2]

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.^[4] 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."^[5] 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 had been in power from 1984 until 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.^[6]

Executive power is exercised by the Royal Government, on behalf of and with the consent of the monarch. The government is constituted of the Council of Ministers, headed by the prime minister. The prime minister is aided in his functions by members of the Council such as deputy prime ministers, senior ministers and other ministers. Legislative power is vested in a bicameral legislature composed of the National Assembly, which has the power to vote on draft law, and the Senate, that has the power of review. Upon passage of legislation through the two chambers, the draft law is presented to the monarch for signing and promulgation. The judiciary is tasked with the protection of rights and liberties of the citizens, and with being an impartial arbiter of disputes. The Supreme Court is the highest court of the country and takes appeals from lower courts on questions of law. A separate body called the Constitutional Council was established to provide interpretations of the constitution and the laws, and also to resolve disputes related to election of members of the legislature.^[7]

The Cambodian People's Party has dominated the political landscape since the 1997 coup d'état in Phnom Penh. Other prominent political parties include the royalist FUNCINPEC and the erstwhile Cambodia National Rescue Party that was dissolved by the Supreme Court in 2017. Comparative political scientists Steven Levitsky and Lucan Way have described Cambodia as a "competitive authoritarian regime", a hybrid regime type with important characteristics of both democracy and authoritarianism.^[8]

In July 2023 election, the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) easily won by a landslide in flawed election, after disqualification of Cambodia's most important opposition, Candlelight Party.^[9] On 22 August 2023, Hun Manet, son of Hun Sen, was sworn in as the new Cambodian prime minister.^[10]