The elections held in July 1993 witnessed an impressive turnout of nearly ninety percent, despite the atmosphere of intimidation and political violence that marred the process. The FUNCINPEC party, led by Prince Ranariddh, the son of King Sihanouk, secured a majority. However, the interim government, dominated by former Khmer Rouge battalion commander Hun Sen, refused to relinquish the power it had maintained since 1979. Consequently, a coalition government was established, featuring dual prime ministers: Prince Ranariddh and Hun Sen. The constitutional monarchy was restored, with Prince Sihanouk returning to the throne he had abdicated in 1955, albeit without any real influence in governance.

As time went on, political strife intensified, resulting in the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), led by Hun Sen, asserting control over the government. The CPP retained command over the police, defense, and provincial administrations, relegating Prince Ranariddh to the role of a mere figurehead. Tensions escalated between the two prime ministers until mid-1997 when violent clashes erupted on the streets of Phnom Penh, resulting in numerous fatalities. Following this turmoil, Prince Ranariddh, who had just left the country, was ousted in a coup led by Hun Sen in July 1997. Anticipating further violence, many foreign nationals evacuated, and investors rapidly withdrew, leaving numerous projects unfinished, bills unpaid, and thousands unemployed. The situation was further aggravated by the onset of the 1997 Asian financial crisis.

The 1998 elections marked the first democratic process since the Khmer Rouge regime. In addition to the CPP and FUNCINPEC, the newly formed Sam Rainsy Party, comprised of former FUNCINPEC members, participated in the elections. Despite the proliferation of political parties, substantial ideological differences remained minimal, with FUNCINPEC generally viewed as royalist, the CPP as “communist,” and the Sam Rainsy Party as “democratic.” Although the CPP won the majority of seats in the National Assembly, it did not secure the necessary two-thirds majority to form a government, leading to a tense period of negotiation. Eventually, another coalition was established, with Hun Sen retaining the position of prime minister and Prince Ranariddh appointed as the speaker of parliament.