After his Party declared a sweeping victory in Sunday’s election, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen announced Wednesday that he would step down from his 38-year rule of the southeast Asian country and that his son will take his place, NBC News reports.
Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party won 120 of the 125 available seats in Parliament–fewer than the complete sweep reported earlier–securing his reign and his succession plan. In a ceremonial move, Sen advised Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihamoni before giving a televised address to announce the change.
Sen’s son, 45-year-old Hun Manet, is the West Point-educated head of the Royal Cambodian Army. He was elected to the Parliament for the first time Sunday and will assume the Prime Minister role August 10th.