Yim Sovann ( km, យឹម សុវណ្ណ; born 28 September 1964) is a Cambodian politician, who was the Spokesperson and President of the Executive Committee of the

Cambodia National Rescue Party ) , headquarters = , ideology = LiberalismLiberal democracyCivic nationalismPopulismAnti-Vietnamese sentiment , position = Centre , international = Liberal International , affiliation1_title = Regional affili ...

. He was an elected member of the Cambodian parliament representing

Phnom Penh Phnom Penh (; km, ភ្នំពេញ, ) is the capital and most populous city of Cambodia. It has been the national capital since the French protectorate of Cambodia and has grown to become the nation's primate city and its economic, indus ...

until 2017, when the

was dissolved. He is also a successful businessman, and a father of two children. He also served as Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Yim Sovann was first elected to represent

in the

National Assembly of Cambodia The National Assembly ( km, រដ្ឋសភា, ) is one of the two houses (chambers) of the Parliament of Cambodia. It is referred to as the lower house, with the Senate being referred to as the upper house. The National Assembly is an el ...

1998 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for frozen water, in soil in permanently s ...

. Age just 34 at the time, he was Cambodia's youngest parliamentarian. He ventured into Cambodian politics as the Secretary to the Minister of Finance in 1993 and later became a founding member of the Khmer Nation Party (later changed its name to

Sam Rainsy Party The Candlelight Party ( km, គណបក្សភ្លើងទៀន) is a liberal party in Cambodia. The party was a member of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats, Liberal International, and the Alliance of Democrats. It is the larges ...

). He was the Treasurer and Spokesperson of the

. When the

Cambodian National Rescue Party ) , headquarters = , ideology = LiberalismLiberal democracyCivic nationalismPopulism Anti-Vietnamese sentiment , position = Centre , international = Liberal International , affiliation1_title = Regional affi ...

was formed, he was appointed President of the Executive Committee of the party as well as being the Party's Spokesperson. He was also the Chairman of the Parliamentary Commission on Interior, National Defense, and Civil Service Administration from 2005 to 2008 in the

. In January 2015, he became Secretary General of the Parliamentary Minority Group. In December 2016 following Sam Rainsy's exile, he became Deputy Leader of the Opposition until the position was abolished by Parliament on 31 January 2017. Yim Sovann is known for his calm but effective and motivational public speeches and is highly respected for his tireless effort in fighting against corruption and pursuing human rights in

Cambodia Cambodia (; also Kampuchea ; km, កម្ពុជា, UNGEGN: ), officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochinese Peninsula in Southeast Asia, spanning an area of , bordered by Thailand ...

. Due to his undoubted abilities, his nomination for the Chairman of the Parliamentary Commission on Investigation and Anti-Corruption, considered perhaps the most key parliamentary commission, was rejected by the ruling

Cambodian People's Party The Cambodian People's Party (CPP), UNGEGN: , ALA-LC: ; is a Cambodian political party which has ruled Cambodia since 1979. Founded in 1951, it was originally known as the Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Party (KPRP)., UNGEGN: , ALA-LC: ...

on 27 August 2014. He has been an influential opposition party lawmaker having been elected since 1998.

Early life

Born in 1964, Sovann grew up in Phnom Penh and was forced to endure a miserable period like many other Cambodians under the

Pol Pot Pol Pot; (born Saloth Sâr;; 19 May 1925 – 15 April 1998) was a Cambodian revolutionary, dictator, and politician who ruled Cambodia as Prime Minister of Democratic Kampuchea between 1976 and 1979. Ideologically a Marxist–Leninist ...

regime.

Education

Yim Sovann graduated with a Bachelor of Economics from the National University of Management, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. In 1993, he was awarded a full-ride scholarship to Japan where he received a Master's degree in Political Science from

Saitama University Saitama University (埼玉大学, ''Saitama Daigaku'') is a Japanese national university located in a suburban area of Sakura-ku, Saitama City, capital of Saitama Prefecture in Tokyo Metropolitan Area. Founded in 1873, it became a national uni ...

, Japan. He has also received a degree from

Tsinghua University Tsinghua University (; abbr. THU) is a national public research university in Beijing, China. The university is funded by the Ministry of Education. The university is a member of the C9 League, Double First Class University Plan, Projec ...

, studying English and Japanese.

Politics

Yim Sovann entered politics as the assistant to the minister of finance during 1993–94, while continuing his studies in Japan. He has been a member of parliament (MP) for

since

. He was also Chairman of Parliamentary Commission on Interior, National Defense, and Civil Service Administration from 2005 to 2008 in the National Assembly. In January 2015, he became Secretary General of the Parliamentary Minority Group."Election results"
. Cambodia National Election Committee. Retrieved 18 June 2008. In January 2015, he became Secretary General of the Parliamentary Minority Group. In December 2016 following Sam Rainsy's exile, he became Deputy Leader of the Opposition until the position was abolished by Parliament on 31 January 2017.

References

External links

*
BBC: "Cambodia opposition boycott opening of parliament"
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yim, Sovann 1964 births Living people Members of the National Assembly (Cambodia) Candlelight Party politicians Cambodia National Rescue Party politicians People from Phnom Penh