In the past election spin, it was about barami (charisma). When Hun Sen entered politics in the mid-1970s, nobody thought he would have the staying power to last so long. Thirty-three years ago, he was the world's youngest prime minister. Today, he is still around having outlasted every other world leader to rank as longest-reigning prime minister.
Such appears to be Cambodia's destiny, as he said this year he would stay on in power for another 10 years to oversee developments in Cambodia. If that proves to be the case, he will certainly end up in the Guinness World Records. But even if this is his "destiny", there's no guarantee he will find a place in the hearts of most Cambodians.
If he wishes to achieve that goal, he must make sure his barami remains intact and sustained at the highest level among the 15.6-million population. Barami refers to the Buddhist belief that the merit which accumulates from a person's daily life and actions give them an "aura of power" or a "ring of respect". According to this belief, it enables people to achieve and retain a revered status. It also posits that barami is timeless and must be earned.
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