The government is preparing for the retirement of eight provincial governors, Interior Minister Sar Kheng announced at an event to commemorate International Women’s Day on Tuesday.

All were nearly 60, the mandatory retirement age for provincial governors, Kheng said. The governor of Tbong Khmum province, Prach Chan, was scheduled to retire next year, he said.

The remaining seven, for whom retirement dates are yet to be announced, are Banteay Meanchey’s governor Ko Sum Saroeth, Kampot’s Khoy Khun Hour, Kampong Speu’s Ou Sam Uon, Preah Vihear’s Um Mara, Kampong Thom’s Uth Sam Orn, Kampong Cham’s Lun Lim Thai and Svay Rieng’s Cheang Om.

The successors had not yet been tapped, though Kheng hinted some of the vacant offices may be filled by deputy governors. Deputies pursuing promotion by nepotism would be frowned upon, he said.

Interior Ministry Secretary of State Sak Setha said the governors could be appointed to post-retirement roles.

“They can be advisers, because they can help to give ideas to the ministries because they are old,” Setha said, adding the first retirements would come next month.