The prime minister is also the chairman of the Cabinet and leads the executive branch of the Royal Government of Cambodia.

[5] In 1946, France introduced reforms into its colonies in Indochina, and allowed for the first time political parties and parliamentary elections.

The CPP–FUNCINPEC coalition agreement of 1993 marked a brief period in Cambodia where Hun Sen and Prince Norodom Ranariddh were coequal Prime Ministers.

Unlike most parliamentary democracies, the prime minister serves a fixed five-year term in office, and does not have the power to call a snap election nor dissolve parliament prematurely.

The prime minister-designate takes an oath of office in front of the monarch and the two heads of the Thammayut and Mohanikay order.

In July 2022, the constitution was amended to eliminate the required majority vote in parliament to elect the prime minister.

The powers of the Prime Minister are established by the current Constitution of Cambodia, adopted on 24 September 1993 and amended on 4 March 1999.