One of the world's most remarkable monarchs and political figures for the past fifty years left the scene in Asia in October when Cambodia's King Norodom Sihanouk carried out long-threatened intentions to retire and abdicate his throne, clearing the way for a special national crown council to select former United Nations cultural envoy Prince Norodom Sihamoni to succeed him in a smooth transition.

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy in Brussels for an Asia-Europe meeting of Liberal leaders November 12, said in an interview that the country could either be headed toward what he called a process “Burma-isition” under a corrupt regime or be led into reform and modernisation. Several Asian and European experts later commented that Rainsy’s comment were exaggerated, but in Brussels he met with European Parliamentarians and EU Commissioner Louis Michel. He called on the EU to review its aid programmes to the country to ascertain whether portions where being lost to corruption. As if to underline its commitment to the country, the European Commission a few later announced a €3.5 million allocation for a health programme to vulnerable children. Cambodia was also said to be installing a embassy to the EU in Brussels for the first time.

King Sihanouk who had ruled over the Khmer kingdom since the 1940s, first as Prince then King, had often threatened to abdicate during previous crises or because of ill health, but finally carried his intention while in exile in North Korea in the aftermath of the lengthy political crisis since inconclusive parliamentary elections in July 2003. He was the most popular public figure in the country for decades.

He first acceded to the throne in 1941 and in 1954 obtained independence from France. Sihanouk first gained international prominence in the late 1960s and 1970s, when he took a neutralist position during the Vietnam war, which aroused the strong disapproval of the United States, which had him deposed by General Lon Nol. This in turn led to a weak regime closely identified with the US that provided the grounds for the rise of the Khmer Rouge guerrillas against him. From refuge in Peking, he urged a rebellion, assisted by Khmer Rouge. Following their victory in 1975, he returned to Cambodia but again was forced to flee to Peking. Returning again in 1991, he became head of state, then King from 1993 to 2004, when he abdicated.

Prince Sihamoni, 51, was until recently the Cambodian representative to the UNESCO, was the only candidate considered for the position by the nine-member Royal Throne Council, who was said to voted unanimously for him.

His half-brother Prince Norodom Ranariddh, who is the leader of the Royalist FUNCINPEC Party and Speaker of the National Assembly, said the new monarch would return to the country in the coming days and would formally succeed their father in a ceremony anticipated October 29. The event was the second major leadership transition in the turbulent Southeast Asian country in the aftermath of the selection of a new government in July following a lengthy and tense uncertainty after close national parliamentary elections a year earlier.

The succession decision took place in rapid order following the retirement and abdication by the King on October 7 and a day later the National Assembly voted unanimously for a bill to name a successor, followed a day later by the Senate on a closer 49-51vote.

The decision had the backing of both Prime Minister Hun Sen, and Speaker Prince Ranariddh.Normally there would have been no provision in the Cambodian constitution for a succession procedure unless the monarch died. The bill to amend the regulation was hastily in view of the circumstances. This important development took place just a few days after the National Assembly on October 4 ratified a law permitting a UN-backed trial of surviving former Khmer Rouge leaders to procede. The law adopted the terms of an agreement with the UN regarding the rules for the tribunal under discussion for years to judge the survivors of the brutal regime led by Pol Pot which was responsible for the murder of some 2 million Cambodians in the period 1975-79. Final adoption of the measure may be delayed by the royal succession and the question of funding the estimated $57 million in costs also needs to completed.

Both the former King and the future King shared a passion for cultural and artistic affairs, Sihanouk as a filmaker and Sihamoni for modern dance.