Hun Sen Returns: Cambodian Senate Election

Cambodian officials voted in a Senate election, setting the stage for ex-leader Hun Sen to officially return to politics after he stepped down as prime minister last year.

After nearly four decades of hardline rule, Hun Sen handed power to his eldest son Hun Manet after national polls last July held without any significant opposition.

Hun Sen at the time made it clear that despite his resignation, he still intended to wield influence.

The 71-year-old lawmaker and chief of the ruling party cast his ballot near his home in Takhmao city for a seat in the Senate, the country's upper house.

Hun Sen has said that he intends to become president of the Senate, allowing him to act as head of state when the king is overseas.

Four political parties, including Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP), the royalist Funcinpec Party and two small opposition parties are participating.

Of the 62-seat Senate, 58 seats will be voted on by 125 MPs and more than 11,000 local administrators. King Norodom Sihamoni will appoint two senators, while the National Assembly will appoint two others.

Most eligible voters are members of the CPP -- who made a clean sweep of the Senate last election -- making Hun Sen's victory all but certain.

Becoming president of the Senate would protect his son and prevent the family's control being undermined, Strangio added.

The National Electoral Committee is expected to take several weeks to publish official results.

But voters in the capital Phnom Penh seemed keen to see Hun Sen back in a position of authority.

The election follows lawmakers approving Hun Sen's youngest son Hun Many as a deputy prime minister.

The government now includes a number of Hun Sen's relatives, with several children of his allies also holding top jobs.