Brash Cambodian PM backs Trump presidency

Image
AFP Phnom Penh
Last Updated : Nov 03 2016 | 4:48 PM IST
Just days before America votes for its next president, Donald Trump has drawn yet another unlikely international endorsement with Cambodian strongman Hun Sen joining a colourful coterie of foreign leaders backing the real estate mogul to win.
Hun Sen, an authoritarian premier who leans heavily on bombast and brash statements, said today he "really wanted" Trump to clinch next week's US presidential poll, extolling the billionaire Republican's potential as a global peacemaker.
"Frankly speaking, I really want Trump to win," Hun Sen said in a speech to hundreds of police cadets in the capital Phnom Penh.
"If Trump wins, the world might change and the situation would become better because Trump is a businessman, and as businessman, Trump will not want war," he added.
Hun Sen, whose 31-year rule over Cambodia has been marred by accusations of rampant rights abuses, added that a Trump presidency may help heal deeply strained ties between the United States and Russia.
"But if Trump wins, Trump and Putin could be friends," Hun Sen said today.
The Russian president is one of few other world leaders to praise Trump, calling him a "very bright and talented person".
A handful of other endorsements have come from right-wing politicians in Europe, including Hungarian PM Viktor Orban and Czech President Milos Zeman.
In an extraordinarily divisive campaign, Trump has hurled insults at women, hispanics, Muslims and called into question long-standing alliances with nations around the globe.
The endorsement from Hun Sen comes as Trump's polling numbers have been given a recent lift ahead of Tuesday's vote, a bump that has by turns horrified, delighted and bamboozled outside observers.
The sudden narrowing of the race has also sent shudders through financial markets, with most investors considering democratic nominee and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton a safer, more stable bet.

Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content

*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Nov 03 2016 | 4:48 PM IST

Next Story