Phnom Penh, Cambodia
King Norodom Sihanouk gave up the Cambodian throne this week—through a posting on his Web site. The 81-year-old king has often threatened to resign, saying his lack of real power means he can do little for his poor and unstable country. His son Prince Norodom Ranariddh, speaker of the National Assembly, said, “We still hope that tomorrow or the day after tomorrow the king will agree to be the king again.” But Sihanouk, who was installed by the French during colonial rule in 1941, said he was tired. “Allow me, in waiting for my death, a tranquil life, in serenity, which I have not had since 1940,” he said on his Web site. The king is believed to prefer as successor his other son, Prince Norodom Sihamoni, a dancer in Paris.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Quiz of The Week: 15 – 21 NovemberQuiz Have you been paying attention to The Week’s news?
-
Can the UK do more on climate change?Today's Big Question Labour has shown leadership in the face of fraying international consensus, but must show the public their green mission is ‘a net benefit, not a net cost’
-
The Week Unwrapped: Will US Catholics rebel against the Pope?Podcast Plus what are the ethics of freezing your late partner?
