Yim Sovann

Yim Sovann យឹម សុវណ្ណ MP
File:Yim Sovann1.png
Deputy Leader of the Opposition
In office 5 December 2016 – 31 January 2017
Leader	Kem Sokha
Preceded by	Kem Sokha
Succeeded by	Position abolished
Member of Parliament for Phnom Penh
Incumbent
Assumed office 26 July 1998
Majority	125,529 (18.9%)
Secretary-General of the Cambodia National Rescue Party
Incumbent
Assumed office 9 April 2013
President	Sam Rainsy Kem Sokha
Preceded by	Position established
Chairman of Parliamentary Commission on Interior, National Defense, and Civil Service Administration
In office 2005–2008
Prime Minister	Hun Sen
Treasurer of Sam Rainsy Party
In office June 1995 – 2010
Prime Minister	Hun Sen
Leader	Sam Rainsy
Succeeded by	Ky Wandara
Personal details
Born	(1964-09-28) 28 September 1964 Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Political party	Cambodia National Rescue Party
Other political affiliations	Sam Rainsy Party (1998–2012)
Spouse	Ke Sovannaroth
Children	2
Alma mater	Saitama University (M.P.S.) National University of Management (B.Ec) Tsinghua University
Profession	Politician, businessman

Template:Cambodian name Yim Sovann (Template:Lang-km; born 28 September 1964) is a Cambodian politician, currently serving as the Spokesperson and President of the Executive Committee of the Cambodia National Rescue Party. He is an elected member of the Cambodian parliament, a successful businessman, and a father of two children. He also served as Deputy Leader of the Opposition.

Yim Sovann is affiliated with the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) and was first elected to represent Phnom Penh in the National Assembly of Cambodia in 1998. 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 member of the Khmer Nation Party (later changed its name to Sam Rainsy Party). He was the Treasurer and Spokesperson of the Sam Rainsy Party. When the Cambodian National Rescue Party 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 National Assembly of Cambodia. 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 January 31, 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. 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 on August 27, 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 regime.

Education

Yim Sovann has a Bachelor of Economics from the National University of Management, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. In 1993, he was awarded a scholarship to Japan where he received a Master's degree in Political Science from Saitama University, Japan. He has also completed a Diploma of Languages, studying English and Japanese at Tsinghua University.

Politics

Sovann and his colleagues meet with US Secretary of State John Kerry and Ambassador William A. Heidt in Phnom Penh on 26 January 2016.

Yim Sovann enter 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 Phnom Penh since 1998. 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. 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 January 31, 2017.

External links

• Yim Sovann on Facebook
• BBC: "Cambodia opposition boycott opening of parliament"