The Hun dynasty is solidifying an already iron grip on Cambodia after the kingdom’s National Assembly voted unanimously to appoint Cambodian Minister of Civil Service Hun Many as a deputy prime minister.

Many received all of the 120 votes during an extraordinary session chaired by Khuon Sudary, President of the National Assembly on Wednesday, local media reported. 

Many, 41, is the youngest son of Cambodian People’s Party president Hun Sen, 71, who stepped down as prime minister after last year’s national elections in favor of eldest son Hun Manet, 45.

The presumably proud father was not in the country to witness Many’s appointment.

Hun Sen was in Bangkok visiting Thaksin Shinawatra at the former Thai prime minister’s private residence after traveling “gangsta style,” according to Human Rights Watch Deputy Asian Director Phil Robertson. 

“So much for ‘good governance’ or ‘human rights’ in the Mekong sub-region,” Robertson posted on X.

Thaksin was released from the Police General Hospital on Sunday, after being held there due to ill health for six months on corruption charges following his return from exile. 

Hun Sen provided Thaksin with sanctuary during his 15-year exile, allowing him to visit frequently as a special advisor to Cambodia.

His son’s appointment was not unexpected. On Feb. 16, exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy said  Hun Many’s elevation to deputy prime minister would show, “this regime is a feudal clan, as far away from public accountability as any in the world.”

Hun Sen was Cambodia’s prime minister from 1985 to 2023, the longest-serving premier in the country’s history.

Edited by Elaine Chan and Taejun Kang.

This content originally appeared on Radio Free Asia and was authored by By Mike Firn for RFA.

This post was originally published on Radio Free.