The National Assembly (NA) has voted in favour of the appointment of three additional members of the government.
According to its February 21 press release, the NA approved the appointment of Hun Many as Deputy Prime Minister and Sri Thamrong and Pen Vibol as Senior Ministers in charge of Special Missions.
The vote followed a request by Prime Minister Hun Manet, who explained that the new positions will increase the efficiency of the seventh-mandate government.
“The Extraordinary Session of the National Assembly of the 7th Legislature conducted a vote of confidence with a quorum of 120 members, all of whom voted in favour,” said the release.
The session concluded its agenda with the participation of Prime Minister Hun Manet.
Following the vote, several state and private institutions sent congratulatory messages, noting that they considered the appointees qualifications worthy of their missions to serve the nation and its people.
Government spokesman Pen Bona said on February 21 that the appointments aimed to enhance efficiency, noting the extensive experience of the three.
He added that Many previously served as a personal assistant to former Prime Minister Hun Sen, before entering politics and becoming a Member of Parliament. Currently, he serves as the Minister of Civil Service, demonstrating ample experience to assume his new role.
“The decision to appoint Hun Many as deputy prime minister was a necessary step, as he currently holds the position of civil service minister, and is responsible for leading significant reforms in this sector. Appointing him deputy prime minister is intended to bolster efficiency and further enhance the effectiveness of these reforms,” he said.
According to Bona, the decision to augment the government’s composition for smoother operations and increased effectiveness was an excellent one.
Chey Tech, an independent socio-economic analyst, said that the fact that the NA’s vote of confidence was not unusual, since it supports the work of the ruling party and the government.
However, he noted that when officials attain higher status and responsibilities, they must work harder to contribute to national development.