Phnom Penh: H.E. Hy Sophea, a member of the Constitutional Council, has been elected as President of the Council for its 10th mandate (2025-2028), succeeding H.E. Im Chhun Lim, who completed his three-year term.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the election took place during a plenary session of the Constitutional Council, presided over by its senior member H.E. Uch Kim Orn. Concurrently, three new members of the Constitutional Council officially assumed office. These include H.E. Yuok Ngoy, who was re-appointed by the National Assembly, H.E. Ms. Khek Kay Mealy Sisoda, appointed by His Majesty the King, and H.E. You Bunleng, appointed by the Supreme Council of the Magistracy.
The Constitutional Council is composed of one President and eight members. The President is elected by a college of nine Councillors through an absolute majority vote, with elections held every three years, in accordance with the rotation of one-third of the Council’s members. Each member serves a nine-year term, with one-third of the membership being renewed every three years. For the inaugural mandate, appointments were made for staggered terms of three, six, and nine years to ensure a regular rotation.
The Council’s composition includes three members appointed by His Majesty the King, three elected by the National Assembly, and three elected by the Supreme Council of the Magistracy. All members must be Khmer nationals by birth, at least 45 years of age, and hold higher education degrees in law, administration, diplomacy, or economics, with no less than 15 years of professional experience.
The Constitutional Council is the supreme institution established under the 1993 Constitution to ensure respect for the Constitution. It holds the responsibility of interpreting the Constitution and laws passed by the National Assembly and reviewed by the Senate. Additionally, the Council adjudicates disputes related to elections of Members of the National Assembly and Senators. This institution began its operations for the first time in Cambodia’s history on June 15, 1998.